山谷

• Pinyin: shān gǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 山 = mountain; 谷 = pictograph of valley with streams — valley

Meaning

Valley; dale. A low area of land between hills or mountains.

Refers to the depression between mountains, often with rivers flowing through. Used in geographical contexts, poetry, and metaphorically to describe low points or hidden places. Mountain valleys are traditionally seen as peaceful, secluded places in Chinese literature.

Examples

1. 清澈的溪水从山谷间流过。 Clear stream water flows through the mountain valley.
2. 山谷里传来阵阵鸟鸣声。 Bursts of birdsong came from the valley.
3. 这个小村庄坐落在幽静的山谷之中。 This small village is nestled in a quiet mountain valley.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, nature, poetic

Tone: serene

Do Say

• 山谷里很凉爽。(It's cool in the valley.)
• 回声在山谷中回荡。(The echo reverberates through the valley.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'山谷'形容城市低地 (Don't use 山谷 for urban low-lying areas — it specifically refers to valleys between mountains)

Origin & History

Compound of 山 (mountain) + 谷 (valley, grain). 谷 was originally a pictograph of a valley between two hills with water flowing through.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal