渓谷(けいこく)

けいこく
noun
valley, gorge, ravine
geography
1. valley, gorge, ravine
A deep, narrow valley with steep sides, typically formed by river erosion. Often a scenic natural feature.
美(うつく)しい渓谷(けいこく)を歩(ある)く。
To walk through a beautiful gorge.
紅葉(こうよう)の季節(きせつ)に渓谷(けいこく)を訪(おとず)れる人(ひと)が多(おお)い。
Many people visit the gorge during autumn foliage season.
この渓谷(けいこく)は何万年(なんまんねん)もかけて川(かわ)が岩(いわ)を削(けず)って作(つく)られた。
This gorge was carved out by a river eroding rock over tens of thousands of years.

Usage

Japan has many famous 渓谷(けいこく), popular as destinations for hiking and autumn leaf viewing (紅葉狩(もみじが)り).

Similar words

谷(たに) is a general word for "valley" — broader and less dramatic. 渓谷(けいこく) specifically refers to a narrow, steep-sided valley, often with a river at the bottom. 峡谷(きょうこく) means "canyon" and tends to describe even larger or deeper formations.

Common collocations

  • 渓谷(けいこく)沿(ぞ)い: along the gorge
  • 渓谷(けいこく)ハイキング: gorge hiking

Related Words

Synonym: 峡谷(きょうこく) (canyon (larger))
Related: 谷(たに) (valley (general))
Related: 滝(たき) (waterfall)
Compare: 山峡(さんきょう) (mountain gorge)
Compare: 谷間(たにま) (valley)
general
Added 2026.2.11 21:59 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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