谷

• Reading: たに
• Romaji: tani
• Kanji breakdown: 谷 (koku/tani/ya) — valley, gorge
• Pronunciation: /ta.ni/

Meaning

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

A noun for a geographical valley or gorge. Appears in many Japanese place names such as 渋谷 (Shibuya), 四谷 (Yotsuya), and 谷中 (Yanaka). Also used as a common surname. In compounds, can be read たに or や depending on the word.

Examples

1. 谷の向こうに美しい滝があった。 There was a beautiful waterfall on the other side of the valley.
2. 朝の谷には霧がかかっていた。 Fog hung over the valley in the morning.
3. この谷沿いの道はハイキングに人気がある。 The trail along this valley is popular for hiking.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, nature, place names

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

The kanji 谷 is a pictograph depicting water flowing down between two cliff faces, forming a valley. One of the oldest kanji related to landscape features.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal