Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
Example phrases
雨后山坡上的泥变得很滑,行人要小心。Yǔ hòu shānpō shàng de ní biàn de hěn huá, xíngrén yào xiǎoxīn.After the rain, the mud on the mountain slope became very slippery, so pedestrians should be careful.
羊群在山坡上慢慢地吃草。Yángqún zài shānpō shang mànmàn de chī cǎo.A flock of sheep slowly grazes on the mountain slope.
山坡上开满了黄色的小花。Shānpō shang kāimǎn le huángsè de xiǎohuā.The mountain slope was covered with small yellow flowers.