淵(ふち)

ふち
noun
deep pool, abyss
geography
1. deep pool, deep spot in a river
A deep, still section of a river or stream where the water is calm on the surface but deep below. Contrasts with 瀬(せ) (shallow, fast-flowing section).
川(かわ)の淵(ふち)で魚(さかな)を釣(つ)る。
I fish in the deep pool of the river.
この辺(あた)りは淵(ふち)になっていて、泳(およ)ぐのは危険(きけん)だ。
This area is a deep pool, so swimming is dangerous.
瀬(せ)と淵(ふち)が交互(こうご)に現(あらわ)れる渓流(けいりゅう)は釣(つ)りの名所(めいしょ)だ。
A mountain stream where shallows and deep pools alternate is a famous fishing spot.
2. abyss, depths
Used figuratively for a deep, dark, or unfathomable state, such as the depths of despair or a perilous situation.
絶望(ぜつぼう)の淵(ふち)に立(た)たされた。
I was driven to the brink of despair.
会社(かいしゃ)は倒産(とうさん)の淵(ふち)にあった。
The company was on the verge of bankruptcy.
戦争(せんそう)の淵(ふち)から辛(かろ)うじて引(ひ)き返(かえ)すことができた。
They barely managed to step back from the brink of war.

Usage

In the literal sense, 淵(ふち) refers to a deep, quiet section of a river, as opposed to 瀬(せ) (a shallow, fast-flowing section). The proverb 淵(ふち)瀬(せ)を変(か)える (shallows change to deep pools) describes the unpredictability of fortune.

The figurative sense (brink, verge) is extremely common: ～の淵(ふち) (the brink of ~). This pattern is used with negative situations like 絶望(ぜつぼう)の淵(ふち) (the brink of despair), 死(し)の淵(ふち) (the brink of death), and 破滅(はめつ)の淵(ふち) (the brink of ruin).

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 深淵(しんえん) (abyss (literary))
Compare: 滝壺(たきつぼ) (plunge pool)
general
Added 2026.2.24 21:51 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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