Definitions

bǎn slope; hillside

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "阪" is a semantic-phonetic compound formed by the radical "阝", which denotes hills or landforms, and the component "反", primarily providing phonetic indication, together conveying the original meaning of a slope or hillside. This core definition has persisted from early textual occurrences into modern usage, with the character consistently representing inclined terrain. Its application extended beyond mere description to designate locations featuring such topography, thereby becoming embedded in various place names. The traditional form "阪" has maintained its structural integrity over time, though a variant "坂" exists as an orthographic alternative representing the same concept without altering the fundamental meaning.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

是繁华的城市。

Dàbǎn shì fánhuá de chéngshì.

Osaka is a bustling city.

他们住在神地区。

Tāmen zhù zài Bǎnshén dìqū.

They live in the Hanshin region.

道骑行需要小心。

Bǎndào qíxīng xūyào xiǎoxīn.

Cycling on a slope requires caution.

的天气通常很暖和。

Dàbǎn de tiānqì tōngcháng hěn nuǎnhuo.

The weather in Osaka is usually warm.

这个的坡度很大。

Zhège bǎn de pōdù hěn dà.

The gradient of this slope is very steep.

攀登这个非常费力。

Pāndēng zhège bǎn fēicháng fèilì.

Climbing this slope is very strenuous.

这条道蜿蜒穿过山林。

Zhè tiáo bǎndào wānyán chuānguò shānlín.

This sloped road winds through the mountain forest.

在大旅行时,我们参观了神百货。

Zài Dàbǎn lǚxíng shí, wǒmen cānguānle Bǎnshén bǎihuò.

When traveling in Osaka, we visited the Hanshin Department Store.