Chinese Character: 谷
1. Character Basics
Radical: 谷/gǔ (valley, grain)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gǔ (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Valley; gorge; grain; cereal
The character 谷 has two main meanings: it can refer to a valley or gorge in geographical terms, and it can also mean grain or cereal in agricultural contexts. This dual meaning reflects the importance of both geographical features and agriculture in Chinese culture and history.
4. Common Words
- 山谷 (shāngǔ) - Mountain valley
这座山谷非常美丽，有清澈的溪流。(Zhè zuò shāngǔ fēicháng měilì, yǒu qīngchè de xīliú.) - This mountain valley is very beautiful, with clear streams.
- 稻谷 (dàogǔ) - Rice grain; paddy rice
秋天是稻谷成熟的季节。(Qiūtiān shì dàogǔ chéngshú de jìjié.) - Autumn is the season when rice grains ripen.
- 谷物 (gǔwù) - Cereal; grain
这些谷物是我们的主要食物来源。(Zhèxiē gǔwù shì wǒmen de zhǔyào shíwù láiyuán.) - These cereals are our main food source.
- 谷底 (gǔdǐ) - Valley bottom; lowest point
我们终于到达了谷底。(Wǒmen zhōngyú dàodále gǔdǐ.) - We finally reached the bottom of the valley.
- 峡谷 (xiágǔ) - Canyon; gorge
这个峡谷的景色令人惊叹。(Zhège xiágǔ de jǐngsè lìngrén jīngtàn.) - The scenery of this canyon is amazing.
5. Grammar & Usage
Usage as a Noun: 谷 is primarily used as a noun, with two main meanings: valley/gorge and grain/cereal.
1. 山谷里有很多树木。(Shāngǔ lǐ yǒu hěnduō shùmù.) - There are many trees in the valley.
2. 农民种植谷物来养活家人。(Nóngmín zhòngzhí gǔwù lái yǎnghuó jiārén.) - Farmers grow grains to support their families.
Usage in Compound Words: 谷 is often used in compound words to describe geographical features or agricultural products.
1. 河谷 (hégǔ) - River valley
2. 玉米 (yùmǐ) - Corn (literally "jade grain")
Common Structures:
- [地名] + 谷: Place name + valley (e.g., 黄山谷, Yellow Mountain Valley)
- [类型] + 谷物: Type + grain (e.g., 食用谷物, Edible grains)
- 谷 + [方位]: Valley + direction (e.g., 谷口, Valley entrance; 谷底, Valley bottom)
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the character 谷 holds significant importance due to its dual association with geography and agriculture. As a symbol of valleys and gorges, it reflects the close relationship between Chinese people and the natural environment, particularly the mountainous landscapes that have shaped Chinese civilization.
As a symbol of grain and cereal, 谷 represents the foundation of Chinese agriculture and food culture. For thousands of years, grain has been the staple food of the Chinese people, and phrases containing 谷 often carry connotations of harvest, prosperity, and sustenance. In traditional Chinese thought, the importance of agriculture is emphasized in concepts like "民以食为天" (the people take food as heaven), highlighting the central role of grains in Chinese society.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
我们在山谷里露营了一晚。
(Wǒmen zài shāngǔ lǐ lùyíngle yī wǎn.)
We camped in the valley for one night.
Example 2:
今年的谷物收成很好。
(Jīnnián de gǔwù shōuchéng hěn hǎo.)
The grain harvest is very good this year.
Example 3:
这条峡谷的两边都是陡峭的悬崖。
(Zhè tiáo xiágǔ de liǎngbiān dōu shì dǒuqiào de xuányá.)
There are steep cliffs on both sides of this canyon.
8. Memory Tips
1. Break down the character: 谷 is composed of 八 (bā, eight) and 口 (kǒu, mouth). You can imagine it as "eight mouths" representing many people who depend on grains for food, or as a picture of a valley with a river flowing through it (the horizontal line in the middle).
2. Visual association: When you see 谷, try to visualize either a scenic valley with mountains on both sides or a field of golden grain swaying in the wind. This dual imagery can help you remember both meanings of the character.
3. Word association: Practice using 谷 in both geographical contexts (山谷, 峡谷) and agricultural contexts (稻谷, 谷物) to reinforce its dual meaning.
4. Practice writing: Write the character multiple times, focusing on its structure. The stroke order is: point,撇,点,横,竖,横折,横 (丶, 丿, 丶, 一, 丨, ㄱ, 一).