The Meaning of tani [谷] In Japanese

谷
たに
Romaji: tani N5

What does 谷 mean?

Translation and Meaning

valley, gorge, ravine, hollow

Definition

谷 means a valley—a natural depression between hills where water often flows, forming a lowland landscape.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Geography: a valley or gorge, the low-lying land between mountains that can host streams.
  • Toponymy and naming: used in place names and geographic descriptors to denote valleys or valley-shaped features.
  • Figurative or technical usage: in compounds or specialized terms, it can convey a sense of hollowness or a recessed space within a larger context.

Etymology

Phonetic evolution The character 谷 provides the native kun-reading tani in Japanese, with the on-reading used in Sino-Japanese compounds; its pronunciation reflects a standard logographic borrowing from Chinese while preserving the valley meaning.

Origin

Ancient usage in Japanese and Chinese texts; early attestations appear in classical writings and toponyms, reflecting long-standing recognition of valleys in the landscape.

Usage

Used in geography, education, travel writing, and everyday speech; as a noun, it denotes the landform and appears in place names and geographic descriptions.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: visualize two mountains with a narrow channel between them; the central strokes of 谷 resemble the valley floor guiding water.

Variations

  • 峡谷 kyōkoku — gorge; kyōkoku
  • 谷間 tanima — hollow or gap between hills; tanima

Example Phrases

  • 山道 を 歩いて 谷 を 見下ろした 景色 が 綺麗だった
    yamamichi o aruite tani o mioroshita keshiki ga kirei datta
    I walked along the mountain path and looked down at the valley; the scenery was beautiful.
    Lista:
    • 山道 (yamamichi) – mountain path
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 歩いて (aruite) – walking
    • 谷 (tani) – valley
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 見下ろした (mioroshita) – looked down
    • 景色 (keshiki) – scenery
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 綺麗だった (kirei datta) – was beautiful
    「谷」 significa valle; aqui funciona como objeto direto de 見下ろす em 谷を見下ろす, ou seja, olhar para baixo para o vale a partir de um ponto elevado.
谷