also: たにそこ
valley floor; bottom of a gorge; bottom of a ravine
Refers to the lowest part of a valley, gorge, or ravine. Often used in geographical descriptions or metaphorically for a low point.
A small stream was flowing at the bottom of the valley.
Due to the recession, the economy is at rock bottom.
He slipped while climbing and fell to the bottom of the valley.
He climbed back up from the lowest point of his life.
Looking down into the valley bottom from the bridge made me dizzy.
谷底 literally means the bottom of a valley and is used figuratively for a low point, whereas どん底 is the stronger, more common word for hitting rock bottom in life or fortune.
山頂 means the summit of a mountain, the geographical and figurative opposite of 谷底, the bottom of a valley.
Standard kanji spelling. The reading たにぞこ is the most common.
Rare alternate reading; たにぞこ is overwhelmingly preferred in modern Japanese.
Compound of 谷 (tani, 'valley') and 底 (soko, 'bottom'). The reading たにぞこ results from rendaku (sequential voicing) of そこ to ぞこ.