壑

hè

㕡 + 土

Frequency#3880

Definitions

hè gully; ravine; Taiwan pr. [huò]

Etymology ideographic

A ditch 㕡 carved in the earth 土; 㕡 also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "壑" derives from early Chinese linguistic development, with its structure incorporating the components "土" representing earth and "谷" representing valley, visually conveying the concept of a deep trench or gully. Etymologically, it initially denoted a natural ravine or water-worn channel, emphasizing a geographical feature shaped by erosion. Over time, its meaning broadened within classical texts to encompass man-made ditches such as moats, as well as abstract applications like an insatiable void in phrases such as "欲壑难填". The character's composition has stayed largely unchanged, maintaining these indicative elements that anchor its semantic range to ideas of depth and excavation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

山间有一条深壑。

Shān jiān yǒu yī tiáo shēn hè.

There is a deep ravine in the mountains.

洪水在平原上冲刷出新的沟壑。

Hóngshuǐ zài píngyuán shang chōngshuā chū xīn de gōuhè.

The flood scoured new gullies in the plain.

探险队艰难地穿越了那道险峻的壑谷。

Tànxiǎn duì jiānnán de chuānyuè le nà dào xiǎnjùn de hègǔ.

The expedition team arduously traversed that steep ravine.

他凝视着脚下深不见底的壑涧，心生畏惧。

Tā níngshì zhe jiǎo xià shēn bù jiàn dǐ de hè jiàn, xīn shēng wèijù.

He gazed at the bottomless chasm beneath his feet, feeling fear in his heart.

画家笔下的层峦叠壑显得气势磅礴。

Huàjiā bǐ xià de céng luán dié hè xiǎnde qìshì pángbó.

The layered peaks and repeated ravines under the painter's brush appear vast and magnificent.

岁月的沟壑深深地刻在了老人的额头上。

Suìyuè de gōuhè shēnshēn de kè zài le lǎorén de étóu shang.

The ravines of time are deeply carved on the old man's forehead.

这座城市的新规划旨在填平贫富之间的鸿壑。

Zhè zuò chéngshì de xīn guīhuà zhǐ zài tián píng pín fù zhī jiān de hóng hè.

The city's new plan aims to bridge the vast gap between the rich and the poor.

他胸中有丘壑，对项目的整体布局早已成竹在胸。

Tā xiōng zhōng yǒu qiūhè, duì xiàngmù de zhěngtǐ bùjú zǎo yǐ chéngzhúzàixiōng.

He has a well-thought-out plan in his mind, already having a complete blueprint for the project's overall layout.

Related Characters

Component: 㕡

壑