海拔
hǎibá
The English word "altitude" is translated into Chinese as 海拔 (hǎibá).
海拔 is used specifically to describe altitude or elevation measured relative to sea level. It is not used for general height above a ground surface.
Meaning: distance measured upwards (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 海拔 is a compound of 海, meaning sea and 拔, meaning to rise or ascend. Literally, it means "rise above sea level".
Which one should you use?
While 海拔 refers to altitude above sea level, 高度 (gāodù) is the general term for height or altitude relative to any reference point. For specific contexts, you might use 飞行高度 (fēixíng gāodù) for flight altitude or 峰顶高度 (fēng dǐng gāodù) for summit altitude.
How do you pronounce it?
hǎibá
Did you know?
- The character 拔 in 海拔 is also used in 拔牙 to describe pulling out a tooth. While both involve upward motion, one is a natural elevation and the other is a forceful extraction.
- In Chinese, the phrase 海阔天空 uses the same character for 'sea' as 海拔. It literally means 'the sea is wide and the sky is boundless' and describes a feeling of absolute freedom.
- Classical Chinese did not use a specific compound like 海拔 for altitude. Instead, the single character 高 functioned as both the adjective 'high' and the noun 'height' depending on the sentence.
Examples in context
- 这个山顶的海拔高度是3000米。The altitude of this mountain peak is 3000 meters above sea level.
- 我们正在升至35000英尺的高度。We are climbing to an altitude of 35,000 feet.
- 今天登山，爬到了4000米的高度！Today, we went hiking and reached an altitude of 4,000 meters!
- 这座山的山高接近5000米。The altitude of this mountain is close to 5,000 meters.
- 这座山的海拔很高。Zhè zuò shān de hǎibá hěn gāo.The altitude of this mountain is very high.
- 这里的海拔是多少？Zhèlǐ de hǎibá shì duōshǎo?What is the altitude here?
- 由于海拔太高，空气很稀薄。Yóuyú hǎibá tài gāo, kōngqì hěn xībó.Because the altitude is too high, the air is thin.
Example conversation
Two friends are hiking in the mountains.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我们现在的海拔有多高？Wǒmen xiànzài de hǎibá yǒu duō gāo?What is our current altitude?
- 俊杰 Junjie大概有三千米。Dàgài yǒu sānqiān mǐ.It is about three thousand meters.
- 佳怡 Jiayi怪不得我觉得有点喘不过气。Guàibùdé wǒ juéde yǒudiǎn chuǎn bù guò qì.No wonder I feel a bit out of breath.
- 俊杰 Junjie我们要慢慢走。Wǒmen yào mànmàn zǒu.We should walk slowly.
