Japanese word

壕

Pronunciation

Romajigō

Meaning

  • nountrench

Example

敵から身を守るため、壕を掘ります。teki ka ra mi o mamo ru ta me gō o ho ri ma su

We dig a trench to protect ourselves from the enemy.

Illustration for 壕 (trench)

More examples

丘の斜面に古い壕が残っています。oka no sha men ni furu i gō ga noko tte i ma su

An old trench remains on the hillside.

Core concept

Describes a deep, narrow ditch dug in the ground to provide cover or defense.

Common phrases

  • 壕を掘るgō o ho ru

    dig a trench

  • 壕を築くgō o kizu ku

    build a trench

  • 壕に隠れるgō ni kaku re ru

    hide in a trench

  • 壕から出るgō ka ra de ru

    come out of a trench

Similar words

塹壕zangō: A ditch dug to give soldiers cover from enemy fire.
溝mizo: A long, narrow ditch in the ground that carries water or marks a boundary.

Definition in Japanese

地面を掘って作った、身を隠したり敵から身を守ったりするための深い溝。ji men o ho tte tsuku tta mi o kaku shi ta ri teki ka ra mi o mamo tta ri su ru ta me no fuka i mizo

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 壕 (gō, "trench") is based on the Chinese-derived character 壕, whose meanings include a dug ditch and moat.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the English word trench, 壕 (gō) normally refers to a ditch dug on land and not to a deep, narrow feature on the ocean floor.

Other meanings

  • ditchnoun
  • moatnoun

Word lists with this word