Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
爬山 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
爬山páshānto climb a mountainHSK 2, n, rank #13309, Medium
爬山páshānto mountaineerHSK 2, n, rank #13309, Medium
爬山páshānhikingHSK 2, n, rank #13309, Medium
爬山páshānmountaineeringHSK 2, n, rank #13309, Medium
páshān(pa2shan1) T2
  1. 1to climb a mountain
  2. 2to mountaineer
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
爬山páshān(pa2shan1)

爬山 (pá shān) means 'to climb a mountain' and refers to the activity of hiking or mountaineering. It can be used in both casual and formal contexts to describe the act of ascending mountains for leisure or sport, often emphasizing physical exertion and enjoyment of nature.

Frequency#13309DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

爬山 is a popular pastime in China, with many famous mountains such as Huangshan and Wutai Shan offering breathtaking views and spiritual significance. Hiking is often linked to health, wellness, and a means to connect with nature.

Memory Tip

Think of '爬' (pá) as a visual of a person climbing up a steep surface, while '山' (shān) resembles a mountain peak. Imagine a climber pausing to breathe while looking at the majestic mountain, reinforcing both the meaning and the pronunciation.

Meanings of 爬山

páshān(pa2shan1)
1to climb a mountain
2to mountaineer
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 爬山

爬山Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#13309Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 爬山

JasonAmy

Podcast: 爬山

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 爬山

Quick Contrast

登山 (dēngshān) - use 爬山 when emphasizing the physical aspect of climbing; 登山 is more formal and often associated with mountaineering.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '爬' (pá) as a visual of a person climbing up a steep surface, while '山' (shān) resembles a mountain peak. Imagine a climber pausing to breathe while looking at the majestic mountain, reinforcing both the meaning and the pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 爬山 with just '爬' (to crawl or climb) as it specifically refers to mountain climbing. It's commonly used in both informal conversations about weekend activities and more formal discussions about outdoor sports. Remember that the tones are crucial: '爬' is second tone and '山' is first tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 3 word, 爬山 connects well with vocabulary related to nature and outdoor activities. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe their experiences or plans, which helps reinforce the meaning in context.

Cultural Note

爬山 is a popular pastime in China, with many famous mountains such as Huangshan and Wutai Shan offering breathtaking views and spiritual significance. Hiking is often linked to health, wellness, and a means to connect with nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly say '爬山' as a noun rather than a verb phrase. For example, saying '我爬山' (I mountain) instead of '我去爬山' (I go mountain climbing) is incorrect; include the verb '去' to clarify the action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 爬山

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 爬山 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

to crawl
HSK 38 strokes
View full entry
shānmountain
HSK 33 strokes
View full entry

Write 爬山

Practice writing 爬山 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 爬山

爬山 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我下午去打球或者去____。

This afternoon I will play ball or go mountain climbing.

Example Sentences for 爬山 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
爬山之前,要确保你们已经很好地用绳索系在一起了.

pá shān zhī qián, , yào què bǎo nǐ mén yǐ jīng hěn hǎo dì yòng shéng suǒ xì zài yī qǐ.

Make sure you're properly roped together before you begin to climb.
2
你本来不该笨得单独去爬山.

nǐ běn lái bù gāi bèn dé dān dú qù pá shān.

You should have known better than to go mountain climbing alone.
3
爬山者跌下了悬崖.

pá shān zhě diē xià le xuán yá.

The climber fell down a precipice.

Cultural Notes for 爬山

🏮Cultural insight

爬山 is a popular pastime in China, with many famous mountains such as Huangshan and Wutai Shan offering breathtaking views and spiritual significance. Hiking is often linked to health, wellness, and a means to connect with nature.

Frequently Asked Questions about 爬山

You can say '我喜欢爬山' (I like to climb mountains) to express your enjoyment of hiking.