gōu

沟

HSK 5Character · NounTraditional溝

ditch; trench; groove; gully

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

noun

man-made water channel or military trench

formal

Refers to engineered channels for water, drainage, or military defense.

Gōng工
rén人
men们
zhèng正
zài在
wā挖
jué掘
yī一
tiáo条
guàn灌
gài溉
gōu沟
 。

The workers are digging an irrigation ditch.

Zhè这
tiáo条
àn暗
gōu沟
yòng用
lái来
pái排
fàng放
chéng城
shì市
de的
wū污
shuǐ水
 。

This underground drain is used to discharge the city's sewage.

Show 3 more examples
Zhàn战
háo壕
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
tè特
shū殊
de的
jūn军
shì事
gōu沟
 。

A trench is a special type of military ditch.

Gǔ古
dài代
de的
hù护
chéng城
hé河
jiù就
shì是
wéi围
rào绕
chéng城
bǎo堡
de的
shēn深
gōu沟
 。

Ancient moats were deep ditches surrounding castles.

Jiāo交
tōng通
gōu沟
yòng用
yú于
lián连
jiē接
bù不
tóng同
de的
zhèn阵
dì地
 。

Communication trenches are used to connect different positions.

2.

noun

shallow groove; depression resembling a ditch

informal

Often used with the suffix '儿' in spoken language to refer to small grooves or indentations.

Lù路
miàn面
shàng上
bèi被
chē车
lún轮
yà轧
chū出
le了
yī一
dào道
gōu沟
r儿
 。

A groove was pressed into the road surface by the wheel.

Yǔ雨
shuǐ水
shùn顺
zhe着
wǎ瓦
gōu沟
r儿
liú流
le了
xià下
lái来
 。

Rainwater flowed down along the tile groove.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
é额
tóu头
shàng上
de的
zhòu皱
wén纹
xiàng像
yī一
dào道
dào道
shēn深
gōu沟
 。

The wrinkles on his forehead are like deep grooves.

Zhuō桌
miàn面
shàng上
kè刻
zhe着
yī一
dào道
qiǎn浅
qiǎn浅
de的
zhuāng装
shì饰
gōu沟
 。

A shallow decorative groove is carved into the tabletop.

Lǎo老
shù树
de的
shù树
pí皮
shàng上
bù布
mǎn满
le了
gōu沟
hè壑
 。

The bark of the old tree is covered with grooves and ravines.

3.

noun

watercourse; small stream; gully

Refers to natural, often small, water channels like streams or gullies.

Shān山
gōu沟
lǐ里
liú流
zhe着
qīng清
chè澈
de的
xī溪
shuǐ水
 。

Clear stream water flows in the mountain gully.

Hái孩
zi子
men们
zài在
xiǎo小
hé河
gōu沟
r儿
lǐ里
zhuō捉
yú鱼
 。

The children are catching fish in the small stream.

Show 3 more examples
Bào暴
yǔ雨
guò过
hòu后
 ,
zhè这
tiáo条
gān干
gōu沟
biàn变
chéng成
le了
jí急
liú流
 。

After the heavy rain, this dry gully became a torrent.

Nà那
ge个
cūn村
zhuāng庄
wèi位
yú于
liǎng两
tiáo条
shān山
gōu沟
de的
jiāo交
huì汇
chù处
 。

That village is located at the confluence of two mountain gullies.

Wǒ我
men们
zài在
gōu沟
biān边
fā发
xiàn现
le了
yī一
xiē些
yě野
shēng生
zhí植
wù物
 。

We found some wild plants by the stream.