Chinese word

山谷

Pronunciation

Pinyinshān gǔ

Meaning

  • nounvalley

Example

我们沿着山谷散步。wǒ men yán zhe shān gǔ sàn bù

We walk along the valley.

Illustration for 山谷 (valley)

More examples

清晨，阳光照在山谷里。qīng chén yáng guāng zhào zài shān gǔ lǐ

In the early morning, sunlight shines into the valley.

Core concept

A low passage or hollow between mountains, ranging from a broad basin to a steep, narrow cut.

Common phrases

  • 穿过山谷chuān guò shān gǔ

    cross the valley

  • 沿着山谷yán zhe shān gǔ

    along the valley

  • 山谷深处shān gǔ shēn chù

    deep in the valley

Similar words

谷gǔ: A low, hollow area between mountains or hills.
峡谷xiá gǔ: A deep, narrow valley with steep sides.
溪谷xī gǔ: A fairly narrow valley with a stream flowing through it.
山沟shān gōu: A small ditch or narrow hollow on a mountain slope.

Definition in Chinese

两山之间的凹陷地形，范围可以从较宽的盆地到较窄的峡谷不等，侧重指山与山相对形成的谷地。liǎng shān zhī jiān de āo xiàn dì xíng fàn wéi ké yǐ cóng jiào kuān de pén dì dào jiào zhǎi de xiá gǔ bù děng cè zhòng zhǐ shān yǔ shān xiāng duì xíng chéng de gǔ dì

Word origin

The compound 山 (shān, "mountain") + 谷 (gǔ, "valley") creates the basic image of low land lying between mountains.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often picture a valley as broad and gentle, but this Chinese noun can also cover a deep, narrow landscape, with the surrounding context supplying the detail.

Other meanings

  • gorgenoun
  • canyonnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word