沟壑 (gōu hè) — (geography) gully; (geography) ravine | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

(geography) gully(geography) ravine

Measure word · 条

Examples

沟壑。
Yǔ shuǐ zài shān shàng chōng shuā chū xǔ duō gōu hè.
Rainwater has carved out many gullies on the mountain.
沟壑，。
Zhè tiáo gōu hè hěn shēn, yào xiǎo xīn.
This ravine is very deep, be careful.
沟壑。
Dà dì shàng de gōu hè shì cháng qī zì rán qīn shí de jié guǒ.
The gullies on the land are the result of long-term natural erosion.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

壑hèravine

沟 and 壑 both name hollows in the land, giving gullies and ravines.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 溝; 沟 is its simplified writing.

氵冓溝

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

冓

冓gòu溝gōu

Same sound today

The traditional form 溝 pairs 氵 (water) with 冓 for the sound; the simplified 沟 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical part.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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