How to Say "Mountain" in Chinese

山

shān

The English word "mountain" is 山 (shān) in Chinese.

山 is a noun used to refer to a single large mass of earth and rock.

Meaning: large mass of earth and rock (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 山 refers to a single mountain, 山脉 is the proper term used specifically for a mountain range.

When you are counting mountains or specifying a particular mountain, you should use the classifier (measure word) 座 before 山.

shān

In Chinese idioms, the phrase 山穷水尽 describes a situation where one has reached the end of their resources, literally meaning 'the mountains end and the rivers run dry'.
The word 山 might share an ancient linguistic ancestor with the word for 'forehead', 顏, specifically a root meaning a steep slope.
In Chinese culture, the phrase 山 can be used metaphorically to describe a person's stubbornness or an insurmountable obstacle in a relationship.

我从没有爬过这座山。
I've never climbed this mountain.
This sentence shows how to use 山 when talking about climbing a mountain.
Tatoeba #10059900 by zhoudoufu, translation #2481199 by sharptoothed
湯姆一路爬到了山頂。
Tom climbed all the way to the top of the mountain.
This sentence demonstrates using 山 in the context of climbing to a peak.
Tatoeba #13573228 by LeviHighway, translation #7902562 by Hybrid
这座山有3000米高。
This mountain is 3000 meters tall.
This sentence illustrates how to describe the height of a 山.
Tatoeba #502624 by biglion, translation #5313748 by csmjj
中国是一个拥有许多美丽山脉的国家
China is a country with many beautiful mountain ranges.
85 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yuting and Haoran are looking at a landscape photo.

雨婷 Yuting

浩然，你看那座山真漂亮！
Hàorán, nǐ kàn nà zuò shān zhēn piàoliang!
Haoran, look at that mountain, it's so beautiful!
浩然 Haoran

是的，那座山在哪个城市？
Shì de, nà zuò shān zài nǎge chéngshì?
Yes, which city is that mountain in?
雨婷 Yuting

它在我的家乡。
Tā zài wǒ de jiāxiāng.
It is in my hometown.
浩然 Haoran

我想以后去那里看看。
Wǒ xiǎng yǐhòu qù nàlǐ kànkan.
I want to go there and see it in the future.

Sources

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