山体 (shān tǐ) — mountain mass; massif | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to the body or mass of a mountain itself, especially in geological or disaster contexts (e.g. landslides, rockfalls).

noun

mountain massmassif

Measure word · 座

山体。
Zhè zuò shān tǐ fēi cháng dǒu qiào.
This mountain mass is very steep.
山体。
shān tǐ Huá pō shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de zì rán zāi hài.
Landslides are a common natural disaster.
山体。
Zhè zuò shān tǐ zhǔ yào yóu huā gāng yán gòu chéng.
This massif is mainly composed of granite.

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.

山 names the mountain and 体 its solid mass, so together they mean the mountain body.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

山 shows three mountain peaks side by side.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

骨豊體

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ體tǐ

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

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.