Embodiments of the present invention provide an uplink subcarrier spacing indication method, a base station, and a terminal. The base station determines indication information that is used to indicate a first uplink subcarrier spacing supported by the base station, and communicates with the terminal according to the indication information. During the communication, the base station indicates the first uplink subcarrier spacing supported by the base station to the terminal, so that the terminal subsequently determines, based on the first uplink subcarrier spacing, a second uplink subcarrier spacing supported by the terminal; or the base station receives information that is sent by the terminal and that carries a second uplink subcarrier spacing, in other words, receives an indication from the terminal, so as to learn of the second uplink subcarrier spacing supported by the terminal or to be used by the terminal to send an uplink signal.