1.
foot of a mountain, base of a mountain, foothills
The lower slopes or base area of a mountain. A somewhat literary or formal term often used in geographical descriptions, travel writing, and nature contexts.
山麓にホテルがある。
There is a hotel at the foot of the mountain.
富士山の山麓には牧場が広がっている。
Pastures spread out at the foot of Mount Fuji.
山麓の温泉宿に泊まって、登山の疲れを癒した。
I stayed at a hot spring inn at the base of the mountain and recovered from the fatigue of climbing.
山麓 refers to the lower slopes or base area of a mountain. A somewhat literary and formal word used in geographical descriptions, travel writing, and nature contexts.
CONTRAST:
In everyday speech, 山のふもと is more common and natural. 山麓 sounds more literary and appears mainly in written Japanese, signage, and place names.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 山麓の町: town at the foot of a mountain
- 山麓に広がる: spread out at the mountain base
- 富士山麓: foothills of Mount Fuji
- 山麓の温泉: hot springs at the mountain base
ETYMOLOGY:
The kanji 麓 specifically means 'foot of a mountain' and appears almost exclusively in this compound.