河 口(かこう)

かこう

noun

mouth of a river; river mouth; estuary

nature

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 words

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

Related Words

Related: 河川(かせん) (rivers)

Related: 上流(じょうりゅう) (upstream)

Related: 下流(かりゅう) (downstream)

Related: 源流(げんりゅう) (headwaters, source of a river)

general

Added 2026.3.27 15:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

19500/19919_kakou