河口(かこう)

かこう
noun
mouth of a river; river mouth; estuary
1. mouth of a river; river mouth; estuary
The point where a river empties into the sea, a lake, or another body of water.
河口(かこう)に鳥(とり)が集(あつ)まる。
Birds gather at the river mouth.
この川(かわ)の河口(かこう)は広(ひろ)くて浅(あさ)い。
The mouth of this river is wide and shallow.
河口(かこう)付近(ふきん)では海水(かいすい)と淡水(たんすい)が混(ま)ざり合(あ)っている。
Near the estuary, seawater and freshwater mix together.

Refers specifically to the downstream end of a river where it meets a larger body of water. The opposite — where a river begins — is 源流(げんりゅう) (headwaters).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 河口(かこう)付近(ふきん): near the river mouth
  • 河口(かこう)部(ぶ): river mouth area
  • 河口(かこう)域(いき): estuary zone
  • 河口(かこう)に注(そそ)ぐ: to empty into (at the mouth)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 河川(かせん): rivers (formal/administrative term)
  • 上流(じょうりゅう): upstream
  • 下流(かりゅう): downstream
  • 源流(げんりゅう): headwaters, source of a river
general
Added 2026.3.27 15:03
19500/19919_kakou