溝
Meanings
Refers to a man-made or natural channel for water, such as a roadside ditch or drainage gutter.
There is a deep ditch beside the road.
The drain overflowed because of the rain.
A long narrow cut or depression on a surface, such as a groove in wood, a tire tread, or a wrinkle-like line.
The tire tread is worn down.
Carve a groove into the board.
Figurative use for a deep division or disconnect between people, groups, or countries, often implying difficulty in bridging the difference.
There is a deep rift between the two sides.
It is difficult to bridge the generation gap.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に溝を掘るto dig a ditch (in a place)
I dug a drainage ditch in the garden.
- 〈人〉との間に溝ができるa rift forms between someone and oneself
A deep rift formed between me and my older brother.
- 溝が深まるfor a gap/rift to widen
As the negotiations went on, the rift between the two countries widened even more.
- 溝を埋めるto bridge a gap/rift
They tried to bridge the gap between them through discussion.