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海拔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
海拔hǎibáheight above sea levelHSK 6, n, rank #18916, Hard
海拔hǎibáelevationHSK 6, n, rank #18916, Hard
hǎibá(hai3ba2) T3
  1. 1height above sea level
  2. 2elevation
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March 24, 2026
海拔hǎibá(hai3ba2)

海拔 (hǎibá) refers to the height of a geographical location above sea level. It is commonly used in contexts such as weather reports, geographical studies, and travel discussions to describe the elevation of mountains, cities, or other landforms.

Frequency#18916DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, the concept of elevation is significant when discussing famous mountains such as Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰) and its height above sea level, which is a point of national pride and interest for tourists.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant wave (海, hǎi) crashing down, making you think of the sea. Now, picture a tall tower (拔, bá) rising high above that wave. Together, they remind you that 海拔 is all about the height above this crashing sea.

Meanings of 海拔

hǎibá(hai3ba2)
1height above sea level
2elevation
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 海拔

海拔Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#18916Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 海拔

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Podcast: 海拔

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AI Study Notes for 海拔

Quick Contrast

高度 (gāodù) - use 海拔 when specifically referring to elevation above sea level, while 高度 is more general and can refer to height in various contexts.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant wave (海, hǎi) crashing down, making you think of the sea. Now, picture a tall tower (拔, bá) rising high above that wave. Together, they remind you that 海拔 is all about the height above this crashing sea.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 海拔 with other similar terms like 高度 (gāodù), which can refer to height in a broader sense. It’s important to use 海拔 specifically for elevations above sea level. This term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK level 6 word, 海拔 connects to other geographical terms you may encounter. Focus on using it in sentences about travel or nature, as well as understanding its use in scientific discussions about climate and topography.

Cultural Note

In China, the concept of elevation is significant when discussing famous mountains such as Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰) and its height above sea level, which is a point of national pride and interest for tourists.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 海拔 to describe vertical height in buildings or rooms, which is incorrect. Instead, use 高度 for such contexts. For example, saying '这座楼的海拔是50米' should be corrected to '这座楼的高度是50米.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 海拔

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Component Characters

hǎiocean
HSK 310 strokes
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to pull up
HSK 78 strokes
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Write 海拔

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

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Grammar Patterns of 海拔

海拔 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 2 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 2

Complete the Sentence

在____高的地方会感到呼吸困难.

At high altitudes it is difficult to breathe.

Example Sentences for 海拔 (2)

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1
在海拔高的地方会感到呼吸困难.

zài hǎi bá gāo de dì fāng huì gǎn dào hū xī kùn nán.

At high altitudes it is difficult to breathe.
2
那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处.

nà chuáng fáng zǐ wèi yú hǎi bá liǎng qiān mǐ de gāo chǔ.

The house is at an elevation of 2 , 000 metres.

Cultural Notes for 海拔

🏮Cultural insight

In China, the concept of elevation is significant when discussing famous mountains such as Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰) and its height above sea level, which is a point of national pride and interest for tourists.

Frequently Asked Questions about 海拔

You can say, '这座山的海拔是三千米,' meaning 'The elevation of this mountain is 3000 meters.'