地形 (dì xíng) — terrain, topography, landform | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to the physical shape of land (mountains, plains, etc.) — concrete, geographic terrain. Unlike 形势, which is abstract 'situation', 地形 is always about the land itself.

noun

terraintopographylandform

Examples

地形。
Zhè zhǒng dì xíng hěn shì hé pá shān.
This kind of terrain is very suitable for mountain climbing.
地形。
Zhè zhāng dì tú xiǎn shì le dāng dì de dì xíng.
This map shows the local terrain.
地形。
Gōng chéng shī xū yào liǎo jiě zhè lǐ de dì xíng cái néng jiàn qiáo.
Engineers need to understand the terrain here to build a bridge.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

地dìground

地 refers to earth or ground, 形 to shape; together they mean land shape or terrain.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

土也地

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě地dì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

彡彡shān

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

井jǐng形xíng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Geography & Landforms

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