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

这家公司近年来一直在走下坡路。

Zhè jiā gōngsī jìn nián lái yīzhí zài zǒuxiàpōlù.

This company has been going downhill in recent years.

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.

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.

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