Chinese Character: 沟
1. Character Basics
Radical: 氵/水 (shuǐ, water, indicates related to water or liquid)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gōu (First tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Ditch; trench; gully; ditch; channel; groove; furrow
The character "沟" primarily refers to a long, narrow indentation in the ground that can contain water. It can describe natural formations like gullies or man-made structures like irrigation ditches. Metaphorically, it can also refer to gaps or differences between things.
4. Common Words
- 水沟 (shuǐ gōu) - Ditch; water channel
大雨过后，水沟里的水满了。
After the heavy rain, the ditch was filled with water. - 鸿沟 (hóng gōu) - Wide gap; chasm
这两个国家之间存在着巨大的鸿沟。
There is a huge gap between these two countries. - 沟渠 (gōu qú) - Ditches and canals; waterways
这个地区有完善的沟渠系统用于灌溉。
This area has a complete system of ditches and canals for irrigation. - 沟通 (gōu tōng) - To communicate; to connect
良好的沟通是解决问题的关键。
Good communication is the key to solving problems. - 地沟油 (dì gōu yóu) - Gutter oil (recycled cooking oil)
政府正在严厉打击地沟油的生产和销售。
The government is severely cracking down on the production and sale of gutter oil.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun, but can also be a verb (especially in the word 沟通 gōu tōng)
Usage Patterns:
- As a noun: Often used with classifiers like 条 (tiáo), 道 (dào), or 条 (tiáo)
一条沟 (yì tiáo gōu) - A ditch
- Compound words: Frequently forms compound nouns related to water channels or metaphorical gaps
山沟 (shān gōu) - Mountain valley; ravine
- Common collocations:
- 挖沟 (wā gōu) - To dig a ditch
- 填沟 (tián gōu) - To fill a ditch
- 沟壑 (gōu hè) - Ravines and gullies; gully
- 鸿沟不可逾越 (hóng gōu bù kě yú yuè) - The gap is unbridgeable
6. Cultural Background
The character "沟" has significant cultural meanings in Chinese history and society:
- Agricultural significance: Ditches and canals (沟渠 gōu qú) have been crucial for irrigation in China's agricultural society for thousands of years, enabling the cultivation of rice and other crops.
- Defensive structures: In ancient times, moats (护城河 hù chéng hé) and defensive ditches were important parts of city fortifications.
- Metaphorical usage: The concept of "鸿沟" (hóng gōu, wide gap) is often used in Chinese to describe divisions between people, groups, or ideas, reflecting the cultural emphasis on harmony and connection.
- Environmental engineering: Traditional Chinese water management systems, including complex networks of ditches, demonstrate ancient engineering wisdom.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
孩子们在水沟里捉小鱼。
The children are catching small fish in the ditch.
Example 2:
文化交流有助于消除不同国家之间的鸿沟。
Cultural exchange helps bridge the gap between different countries.
Example 3:
他们花了一整天时间挖沟铺设水管。
They spent the whole day digging ditches to lay water pipes.
8. Memory Tips
How to remember "沟" (gōu):
- Component breakdown: The character consists of 氵(water radical) on the left and 勾(gōu, hook) on the right. You can remember it as "a hooked or curved water channel."
- Visual association: Imagine a narrow, curved ditch filled with water, which directly relates to the character's meaning.
- Mnemonic phrase: "水沟弯弯像钩子" (shuǐ gōu wān wān xiàng gōu zi) - "A water ditch is curved like a hook." This connects the components and the meaning.
- Related words: Focus on the common word 沟通 (gōu tōng, to communicate), which extends the concept of a physical channel to a metaphorical one for information flow.