谷
valley
Readings
On'yomi
- コク
Kun'yomi
- たに
- きわ.まる
Nanori
- がい
- がえ
- がや
- せ
- たり
- たん
- や
Meaning
谷 centers on a low area between hills or mountains: a valley. The shape itself suggests a sloping opening between higher ground.
Most common words using 谷
20 of 77- 渋谷しぶやN5
Shibuya City (special ward of Tokyo); Shibuya
- 谷たにN3
valley; ravine; gorge; canyon
- 谷間たにま
valley; ravine; gorge; chasm
- 渓谷けいこく
valley (with a river running through it); gorge; ravine; canyon
- 谷川たにがわ
mountain stream
- 峡谷きょうこく
gorge; ravine; canyon; glen
- 山谷さんこく
mountains and valleys
- 日比谷線ひびやせん
Hibiya Line
- 谷町たにまち
sponsors of rikishi or their stables
- 鶯谷おうこく
warbler being in a valley
- 谷地やち
marsh land; swamp
- 龍谷大学りゅうこくだいがく
Ryukoku University
- 世田谷線せたがやせん
Setagaya Line
- 谷風たにかぜ
valley wind
- 横谷おうこく
transverse valley
- 九谷焼くたにやき
Kutani ware (style of Japanese porcelain)
- 幽谷ゆうこく
deep ravine; glen
- 大谷石おおやいし
Oya tuff stone
- 熊谷組くまがいぐみ
Kumagai Gumi
- 大谷大学おおたにだいがく
Otani University
Study
Etymology
谷 is a pictograph of a valley: the upper strokes suggest the sloping sides, and the lower 口 represents the valley floor or opening.
Meaning mnemonic
The top strokes look like two hillsides sloping down into a central opening, and the 口 at the bottom is the flat valley floor. Picture a narrow valley between steep slopes.
Reading mnemonic
For コク, imagine a valley filled with echoing sounds: a loud 'coke' can dropped into the valley echoes 'coke' back, cueing コク.