丘壑 (qiū hè) literally means 'hills and valleys'—'丘' refers to small, rounded hills or mounds, while '壑' denotes deep, narrow valleys or gullies, often carved by water. Together, the term evokes a vivid image of rugged, undulating terrain typical of classical Chinese landscape painting and poetry.

Beyond its physical meaning, 丘壑 is frequently used figuratively to describe the inner mental or emotional landscape—especially in literary or artistic contexts—to suggest depth, complexity, and cultivated imagination. For example, a poet’s 'inner 丘壑' reflects their rich reservoir of ideas, experiences, and aesthetic sensibility. It appears most often in formal, literary, or appreciative discourse—not in casual daily speech—and carries a refined, somewhat poetic tone.