Chinese word

高原

Pronunciation

Pinyingāo yuán

Meaning

  • nounplateau

Example

高原的风很凉，记得带外套。gāo yuán de fēng hěn liáng jì de dài wài tào

The wind on the plateau is cool, so remember to bring a jacket.

Illustration for 高原 (plateau)

More examples

到高原旅游要注意高原病，最好慢慢适应。dào gāo yuán lǚ yóu yào zhù yì gāo yuán bìng zuì hǎo màn màn shì yìng

When traveling to the plateau, watch for altitude sickness and take time to get used to the altitude.

Core concept

An elevated plain, often covered with grass or other short plants, with wide open space around it.

Common phrases

  • 高原气候gāo yuán qì hòu

    plateau climate

  • 高原反应gāo yuán fǎn yìng

    altitude sickness

  • 高原牧场gāo yuán mù chǎng

    plateau pasture

Similar words

高地gāo dì: A high-elevation area of land, whether flat, rolling, or rugged.
平原píng yuán: Wide, level land that stretches with little rise or fall.
草原cǎo yuán: Open land where grass grows widely and trees are scarce.
山地shān dì: Mountainous land with many slopes and large changes in height.

Definition in Chinese

海拔较高且地势平坦的地区，通常比周围地面高且开阔，常有草地或低矮的植被。hǎi bá jiào gāo qiě dì shì píng tǎn de dì qū tōng cháng bǐ zhōu wéi dì miàn gāo qiě kāi kuò cháng yǒu cǎo dì huò dī ǎi de zhí bèi

Word origin

高原 (gāoyuán, "plateau") is formed from 高 (gāo, "high") and 原 (yuán, "open plain"), making the landform easy to picture as a high plain.

Usage tips

  • In travel conversations, the word can name a destination or region rather than a single landmark, so it fits statements about arriving, staying, or traveling across high open land.

Other meanings

  • highlandnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 高原病gāo yuán bìngaltitude sicknessnoun

Word lists with this word