丘陵

• Pinyin: qiū líng
• Hanzi breakdown: 丘 = 丘 (hillock/mound; pictographic); 陵 = 阝+ 夌 (hill/mound/slope)

Meaning

Hills; hilly terrain. An area of gently rolling land higher than a plain but lower and smoother than mountains. Typically features rounded, cultivated, or forested hills.

A geographical term distinguishing 平原 (plains), 丘陵 (hills), 高原 (plateaus), and 山地 (mountainous terrain). China has extensive 丘陵 areas, especially in the south. Common in geography education, travel writing, and agricultural contexts. 丘陵地带 (hilly region) is a standard compound.

Examples

1. 南方的丘陵地带土壤肥沃，自古便是茶叶和柑橘的重要产区。 The hilly regions in the south have fertile soil and have long been major tea- and citrus-growing areas.
2. 他站在丘陵的最高处极目远眺，层层叠叠的山丘绵延至天际，蔚为壮观。 He stood on the highest hill and looked into the distance; rolling hills layered one after another all the way to the horizon—a magnificent sight.
3. 徒步路线穿越连绵起伏的丘陵，沿途风景优美，深受周末郊游爱好者的喜爱。 The hiking trail winds through a series of rolling hills, with beautiful scenery along the way, making it a favorite for weekend outings.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, agriculture, travel, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这片丘陵地形起伏和缓、排水良好，非常适宜种植茶树和各类果树。(The hilly terrain here is gently undulating with good drainage, making it highly suitable for growing tea plants and various fruit trees.)
• 地理教材将中国地貌划分为山地、丘陵、高原、平原和盆地五种主要类型，各具独特的地理特征。(The geography textbook divides China's landforms into five main types: mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, and basins, each with distinct geographical characteristics.)

Don't Say

• 这些丘陵非常高且陡峭 — use 山地 or 山岭 if the terrain is genuinely steep and tall; 丘陵 specifically denotes lower, gentler hills as distinct from true mountains

Origin & History

丘 (hillock/mound) + 陵 (mound/slope/hill) — hills and slopes of the landscape

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal