沟 (gōu) - ditch, trench, groove, gully & channel, watercourse

沟Tone 1

gōu ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 氵

枫惠

沟 · gōu

ditch, trench, groove, gully;

channel, watercourse;

a narrow waterway or depression.

ditch, trench, groove, gullychannel, watercoursea narrow waterway or depression.

Usage highlights

DitchRavineCommunicationSewerTrenchGully

Synonyms

  • 渠— canal, channel
  • 壑— ravine, gully
  • 壕— trench, ditch

Antonyms

  • 岭— mountain ridge (opposite of depression)
  • 丘— hill, mound

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The farmer dug an irrigation ditch (灌溉沟).
  • There is a deep ravine in the mountains (山沟).
  • Communication gap (沟通鸿沟) can hinder relationships.
  • The city has an extensive sewer system (下水沟).

Collocations

  • Ditch(沟渠)
  • Ravine(山沟)
  • Communication(沟通)
  • Sewer(下水沟)
  • Trench(壕沟)
  • Gully(沟壑)

Idioms

  • A deep chasm separates us(鸿沟相隔)
  • Fill gullies and level ravines(填沟平壑)
  • Clear the channels and dredge the ditches(疏沟浚渠)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 沟 is historically associated with water management and agriculture, representing human intervention in landscape.
  • In modern usage, it metaphorically represents gaps or divides, as in 代沟 (generation gap).

FAQ