1.
valley
A low area between hills or mountains.
谷を下る。
To go down into the valley.
谷に川が流れている。
A river flows through the valley.
人生は山あり谷ありだ。
Life has its ups and downs.
2.
ravine, gorge
A deep narrow valley.
深い谷に落ちた。
I fell into a deep ravine.
谷底まで見えないほど深い。
It's so deep you can't see the bottom of the gorge.
橋が谷の上にかかっている。
A bridge spans the ravine.
谷 means valley—a low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river.
READINGS:
- 谷: standard reading
- 谷/谷: in place names (渋谷, 四谷)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 谷を下る: to go down into the valley
- 谷を越える: to cross a valley
- 谷に落ちる: to fall into a ravine
COMPOUNDS:
- 谷間: valley, ravine; cleavage
- 谷底: bottom of a valley
- 渓谷: gorge, ravine
- 峡谷: canyon
IDIOMATIC:
- 山あり谷あり: ups and downs (in life)
- 谷間の時期: a slump period