攀 and 爬

[anonymoose]

攀 and 爬 are often both rendered as "climb" in English. However, according to this Baidu page, 攀 usually refers to vertical ascent, whereas 爬 refers to horizontal ascent. Of course, these are relative concepts, since an ascent cannot be completely horizontal, and is unlikely to be absolutely vertical either (but of course, is entirely possible on a cliff edge, for example).

 

However, comparing Baidu images for 攀山 and for 爬山 doesn't appear to reveal a clear-cut difference.

 

Besides that, 攀, apart from meaning "climb", can also be used to describe one's attitude in climbing, as in the sentence: 蹒跚地走到铁道边，慢慢探身下去，商不大难。可是穿过铁路，要爬上那边月台，就不容易了。他用两手攀着上面，两脚再向上缩，他肥胖的身子向左微倾，显出努力的样子。

 

So, my question is, is there a definite difference between 攀 and 爬, and how is one to understand the word 攀 in the sentence quoted above? From the context, it presumably means he placed his hands flat on the platform, but can the action of putting one's hand flat against any surface be referred to as 攀?

[Kenny同志]

攀：用手抓住東西往上前進，腳可與物體表面接觸，亦可不接觸。

 

爬：一般是手腳著地前進，方向即可為水平，亦可向上，甚至向下。

 

他用兩手攀著上面，两脚再向上缩，他肥胖的身子向左微倾，显出努力的样子。（I'd use 攀在)

意思應當是他用兩手抓住月台邊沿，雙臂用力，想把自己的身體拉上去。