Character

谷

gǔ HSK 7

谷 gǔ HSK 7

1. narrow valley between two mountains; ravine
2. general term for grain crops
3. millet plant; husked seed is small millet, edible
4. rice plant or rice grain (southern Chinese usage)
5. a surname
6. metaphor for a difficult situation; predicament

Words using 谷 as gǔ (4)

1 低谷 dī gǔ — low point, trough HSK 7
- 低 low (indicates the depressed or inferior position)
- 谷 valley (provides the metaphor of a depression or low area)
Example

她走出了人生的低谷。

tā zǒu chū le rén shēng de dī gǔ

She emerged from the low point of her life.
2 山谷 shān gǔ — valley HSK 7
- 山 mountain (provides the geographical context)
- 谷 valley (the low-lying area between mountains)
Example

山谷里有一条清澈的小溪。

shān gǔ lǐ yǒu yī tiáo qīng chè de xiǎo xī

There is a clear stream in the valley.
3 峡谷 xiá gǔ — canyon HSK 7
- 峡 narrow passage between mountains
- 谷 valley
Example

科罗拉多大峡谷是世界上最壮观的峡谷之一。

Kē luó lā duō dà xiá gǔ shì shì jiè shàng zuì zhuàng guān de xiá gǔ zhī yī

The Grand Canyon of Colorado is one of the most spectacular canyons in the world.
4 谷物 gǔ wù — grain HSK 7
- 谷 grain, cereal crops
- 物 things, products (forms a noun indicating category)
Example

谷物是人类的主要食物来源。

gǔ wù shì rén lèi de zhǔ yào shí wù lái yuán

Grain is the main food source for humans.

Structure & writing

谷 gǔ — narrow valley between two mountains; ravine

谷 is a component in 6 characters

HSK 3

容 róng to contain; to hold; to have capacity for

HSK 5

俗 sú custom; social habit or convention formed over time

HSK 6

欲 yù desire; craving for something or wish to achieve a goal 浴 yù to bathe; to take a bath 裕 yù abundant, ample

HSK 7

豁 huō chipped; cracked; split open

谷 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order