江こう湖こ

noun

the public; the world; society

Refers to the wider world or public life, often with a nuance of the secular world outside one's immediate circle. Somewhat literary.

• 彼かれは江こう湖こに身みを投とうじた。

  He threw himself into the world at large.

noun

rivers and lakes

Original literal meaning. Now mainly encountered in classical contexts or set phrases.

• 「江こう湖こ」はもともと川かわや湖みずうみを指さす言こと葉ばだった。

  Originally, 江湖 referred to rivers and lakes.

noun

secluded place; hermitage

Archaic sense for a retreat away from society, often associated with hermits. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 古ふるい詩しでは、江こう湖こは隠いん者じゃの住すまいを意い味みすることがある。

  In old poetry, 江湖 can mean a hermit's dwelling.