Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
麓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
the base of a hill; foothillng, 19 strokes, radical 鹿
foot of a hillunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鹿
(lu4) T4
  1. 1the base of a hill; foothill
  2. 2foot of a hill
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(lu4)

The character 麓 (lù) refers to the base or foothill of a mountain, often indicating the lower part of a hill where it meets the ground. It is commonly used in geographical contexts and can describe landscapes or locations near mountains.

Strokes19Radical鹿
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountains are often associated with spirituality and natural beauty. The concept of 麓 is significant in poetry and literature, where the imagery of mountains and their foothills symbolizes stability and support in life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large mountain (山) looming over a small base (脚) where the hill meets the valley. The character 麓 looks like a mountain with a flat base, reminding you that it represents the foothill (lù) of the mountain. Visualize a 'lu' (sounds like 'loo') where the mountain rests, symbolizing stability and support.

Meanings of 麓

(lu4)
1the base of a hill; foothill
2foot of a hill
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 麓

Simplified
19Strokes
鹿Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 麓

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 麓

Quick Contrast

山脚 (shānjiǎo, foot of the mountain) vs 山麓 (shānlù, base of the mountain) — use 麓 when emphasizing the lower part of a mountain, while 山脚 refers more to the specific point where the mountain meets the ground.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large mountain (山) looming over a small base (脚) where the hill meets the valley. The character 麓 looks like a mountain with a flat base, reminding you that it represents the foothill (lù) of the mountain. Visualize a 'lu' (sounds like 'loo') where the mountain rests, symbolizing stability and support.

Usage Notes

This term is more formal and typically used in written contexts, such as geography or poetry. A common mistake is confusing it with other characters that refer to different parts of a landscape, such as 山 (mountain) or 谷 (valley). Pay attention to its specific use in describing lower elevations.

HSK Study Tips

While 麓 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to geographical terms that may appear in advanced levels. Students should focus on identifying related terms like 山 (mountain) and 谷 (valley) to build a broader understanding of topographical vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountains are often associated with spirituality and natural beauty. The concept of 麓 is significant in poetry and literature, where the imagery of mountains and their foothills symbolizes stability and support in life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 麓 to refer to the entire mountain rather than just the base. For instance, saying '我去爬麓' (I go to climb the麓) is incorrect; it should be '我去爬山' (I go to climb the mountain).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 麓

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 麓

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 林 represents the meaning and 鹿 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

forest

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)鹿
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 麓?

Decomposition of 麓

IDS Structure⿱林鹿
Full Character
=
Lin2
top
鹿lu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 麓?

Write 麓

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 麓

麓 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 3

Complete the Sentence

帕萨迪纳坐落于圣加布里埃尔山____的丘陵地带。

Pasadena lies in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains.

Example Sentences for 麓 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
帕萨迪纳坐落于圣加布里埃尔山麓的丘陵地带。

pà sà dí nà zuò luò yú shèng jiā bù lǐ āi ěr shān lù de qiū líng dì dài。

Pasadena lies in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains.
2
这条道路在山麓分岔.

zhè tiáo dào lù zài shān lù fēn chà.

The road branches at the bottom of the hill.

Cultural Notes for 麓

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, mountains are often associated with spirituality and natural beauty. The concept of 麓 is significant in poetry and literature, where the imagery of mountains and their foothills symbolizes stability and support in life.

Word Family of 麓

Words Containing This Character5
山麓foothills
foot of a hill
岳麓山Mt Yuelu in Changsha 長沙|长沙[Cháng​shā], famous for scenery, temples and tombs
岳麓区Yuelu district of Changsha city 長沙市|长沙市[Cháng​shā​shì], Hunan嶽麓區
麓湖公园Luhu Park in central Guangzhou麓湖公園
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 山麓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 麓

You can say '这座山的麓很美丽' (The foothill of this mountain is beautiful).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after ?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.