Refers to a narrow space or interval between two things, often with a nuance of being caught in between. Common in phrases like ～の狭間で.
I'm torn between my ideals and reality.
I could see the sunset through the gap between the buildings.
He is troubled, caught between tradition and innovation.
Refers to a narrow valley or gorge between mountains. Often used in place names.
A river flows through the mountain gorge.
Historical/architectural term for a narrow opening in a castle wall for shooting arrows or guns.
Aim at the enemy through the loophole in the castle wall.
The village lay quietly nestled in the valley between the mountains.
The soldiers fired arrows through the loopholes in the wall.
隙間 refers to a physical crack or small opening, while 狭間 often describes a more abstract or spatial interval between two larger things or forces.
谷間 is the common everyday word for a valley, whereas 狭間 in this sense is more literary and often appears in place names.
狭間 means a narrow gap between two things (often abstract, like a border between eras), while 谷間 more specifically evokes a valley shape or a dip/trough, so learners can mix them up in figurative use.
elephant's move; diagonal jump
Standard kanji spelling for most senses.
Rarely used kanji form; easily confused with other readings.
Rarely used kanji form.
An old native noun, formerly はさま, for a narrow space between things or mountains. Voicing produced modern はざま; 狭間 and 迫間 are conventional spellings.