谷
The 谷 radical
Valley, ravine
Memory hook
A cave mouth 口 with water running out on both sides — a mountain valley: 山谷 (valley), 欲 (to desire), 豁 (open, spacious).
The 谷 radical (read gǔ) means valley, ravine. The HSK 3.0 data contains 2 characters and 6 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 谷 radical
Study this radical's 6 words with flashcards or a quiz.
Characters with the 谷 radical
2 charactersHSK 6· 1 characters
HSK 6谷
valley, ravine
HSK 7-9· 1 characters
HSK 7-9豁
reckless, regardless of consequences
Vocabulary with the 谷 radical
6 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 谷 radical, ordered by HSK level.
valley
bottom, lowest point, difficult period
gorge, canyon, ravine
reckless, regardless of consequences
to risk one's life, to go all out, to take the gamble
open-minded, broad-minded
Why learn vocabulary by the 谷 radical?
The 谷 radical hints at the meaning valley, ravine. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 2 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 6 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.