湖泊

• Pinyin: hú pō
• Hanzi breakdown: 湖 = 氵 (water) + 胡 — lake; 泊 = 氵 (water) + 白 — to moor, still water; together they form a literary compound for lakes

Meaning

Lakes; a collective or literary term for bodies of standing water. More formal or literary than 湖 alone.

Used in written language, academic texts, and geography contexts. 湖泊 often appears in environmental and ecological discussions about water resources.

Examples

1. 西部高原上分布着数量众多的高原湖泊，其中许多是重要的淡水资源来源。 The western plateau is dotted with numerous high-altitude lakes, many of which are important sources of freshwater.
2. 由于长期过度开发，该地区部分湖泊面积急剧缩小，生态问题日益严峻。 Because of long-term overdevelopment, some lakes in the region have shrunk dramatically, and ecological problems have become increasingly severe.
3. 这片湿地与周边湖泊相连，共同构成了一个完整而脆弱的生态系统。 This wetland is connected to the surrounding lakes, together forming a complete yet fragile ecosystem.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, ecology, environmental protection

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这项环保立法的核心目标之一，是遏制对国内主要湖泊的过度开采和污染，确保水质达到饮用标准。(One of the core objectives of this environmental legislation is to curb over-exploitation and pollution of major domestic lakes, ensuring water quality meets drinking standards.)
• 科研团队对青藏高原上的湖泊进行了系统性调查，发现近几十年来湖泊面积整体呈扩张趋势，与气候变暖密切相关。(The research team conducted a systematic survey of lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and found that overall lake surface area has been expanding over recent decades, closely linked to climate warming.)

Don't Say

• 湖泊 in casual everyday speech to refer to a single local lake — in spoken language, simply say 湖 or name it directly; 湖泊 sounds overly bookish in informal contexts

Origin & History

湖 (lake) + 泊 (to anchor; also used for lakes and marshes) — a paired compound emphasising bodies of still water

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal