瀑布
pùbù
The Chinese word for "waterfall" is 瀑布 (pùbù).
瀑布 is a noun used to describe a flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
Meaning: flow of water over the edge of a cliff (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 瀑 (pù), meaning waterfall or heavy rain and 布 (bù), meaning to spread or cloth, though in this compound it functions as a phonetic/semantic component for the sound of falling water.
How do you pronounce it?
pùbù
Did you know?
- If you describe a person's hair as 'waterfall-like' in Chinese, you are often using a metaphor for hair that is exceptionally thick, black, and flowing.
- The character 布 in 瀑布 means 'cloth' or 'fabric'. This describes the way a wide waterfall looks as it pours down like a giant sheet of white fabric.
- In Chinese culture, waterfalls are often associated with the concept of 'continuous flow'. This makes them popular motifs in traditional painting to symbolize longevity and the eternal nature of the Tao.
Examples in context
- 我看见那儿有个很美的瀑布。I saw a beautiful waterfall there.Tatoeba #335279 by fucongcong, translation #1499021 by weihaiping
- 那个瀑布的声音很大。Nàge pùbù de shēngyīn hěn dà.The sound of that waterfall is very loud.
- 这里的瀑布很壮观。Zhèlǐ de pùbù hěn zhuàngguān.The waterfall here is magnificent.
Example conversation
Two friends are hiking in a scenic mountain area.
- 俊杰 Junjie你看，前面有一个瀑布！Nǐ kàn, qiánmiàn yǒu yīgè pùbù!Look, there is a waterfall ahead!
- 佳怡 Jiayi哇，这个瀑布真漂亮。Wa, zhège pùbù zhēn piàoliang.Wow, this waterfall is truly beautiful.
- 俊杰 Junjie我们要不要走近一点看看？Wǒmen yào bù yào zǒu jìn yīdiǎn kàn kàn?Should we walk a bit closer to look?
- 佳怡 Jiayi好啊，我们走吧。Hǎo a, wǒmen zǒu ba.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waterfall” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
