凹凸

āo tū

concave or convex

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The term 凹凸 (āo tū) describes surfaces or shapes that are uneven, specifically having concave () and convex () parts. It is often used to describe physical textures like roads, objects, or skin.

Common Contexts

凹凸 is frequently used in everyday conversation to talk about uneven surfaces that affect comfort or function, such as bumpy roads or textured materials. It can also describe irregularities on skin or other surfaces.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 凹凸: uneven, bumpy; commonly used for roads, ground, or surfaces.
  • 凹凸设计: design featuring concave and convex elements, often for grip or aesthetics.

Usage Notes

凹凸 is a descriptive term and usually appears as a compound. It is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written language. Avoid confusing it with similar words that only mean 'bumpy' without specifying concave or convex shapes.

Summary

Use 凹凸 when you want to emphasize the presence of both dips and protrusions on a surface, highlighting its unevenness in a precise way.

Example Sentences

这条路因为凹凸不平,开车很不舒服。

Zhè tiáo lù yīnwèi āotū bù píng, kāichē hěn bù shūfu.

This road is uneven with bumps and dips, making driving uncomfortable.

这个手机壳的表面有凹凸设计,手感很好。

Zhège shǒujī ké de biǎomiàn yǒu āotū shèjì, shǒugǎn hěn hǎo.

The surface of this phone case has a concave and convex design, giving it a

他的脸上有些凹凸不平的痕迹,是小时候留下的。

Tā de liǎn shàng yǒuxiē āotū bù píng de hénjì, shì xiǎoshíhòu liú xià de.

There are some uneven marks on his face, left from childhood.