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Kotomora

谷

valley

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • コク

Kun'yomi

  • たに
  • きわ.まる

Nanori

  • がい
  • がえ
  • がや
  • せ

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

Explore all words using 谷 →

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.