堀

• Reading: ほり
• Romaji: hori
• Kanji breakdown: 堀 (hori) — moat, canal
• Pronunciation: /ho.ɾi/

Meaning

Moat; canal. A man-made waterway, especially one surrounding a castle.

A noun referring to a dug-out waterway, most commonly the moats around Japanese castles. Derived from the verb 掘る (horu, to dig). Famous examples include the moats of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo (皇居の堀, kōkyo no hori). Also used in many place names and surnames in Japan, such as 堀江 (Horie) and 外堀 (sotobori, outer moat).

Examples

1. お城の周りには深い堀がある。 There is a deep moat around the castle.
2. 東京の堀沿いを散歩するのが好きだ。 I enjoy taking walks along the moats in Tokyo.
3. この堀は江戸時代に作られたものだ。 This moat was built during the Edo period.

Usage Guide

Context: history, sightseeing, geography

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Noun form related to 掘る (horu, to dig). The kanji 堀 combines 土 (earth) and 屈 (to bend/yield), referring to earth that has been dug out to create a channel.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal