走下坡路

zǒuxiàpōlù

phrase #23,275

Meanings

1 to go downhill
2 to decline
3 to be on the wane

Characters

to walk / to go

down / downward

slope / hillside

Examples

HSK 4

生意走下坡路，他不得不关店。

Shēngyì zǒuxiàpōlù, tā bùdébù guān diàn.

The business went downhill and he had no choice but to close the shop.

HSK 5

这家公司近年来一直在走下坡路。

Zhè jiā gōngsī jìnniánlái yìzhí zài zǒuxiàpōlù.

This company has been going downhill in recent years.

HSK 5

他的健康状况开始走下坡路了。

Tā de jiànkāng zhuàngkuàng kāishǐ zǒuxiàpōlù le.

His health has started to decline.

Tips

memory

The image is literal - walking (走) down (下) a slope (坡路) - describing something or someone heading in a downward direction. Easy to visualize as a natural metaphor for decline.

Stroke Order

走 zǒu

下 xià

坡 pō

路 lù