The kanji 溝 primarily means "ditch," "gutter," "channel," or "groove." It refers to a narrow depression or furrow in the ground or a surface, often created by natural forces or human activity. It can also imply a gap or a space.

・On-yomi (音読み): コウ (kou) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): みぞ (mizo)

⚫︎ 側溝そっこう Translation: Sidewalk gutter, side ditch ⚫︎ 排水溝はいすいこう Translation: Drainage ditch, drain ⚫︎ 溝みぞに落ちる Translation: To fall into a ditch

The kanji 溝 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). ⚫︎ The left side is the water radical, 氵 (also written as 水), indicating a connection to water or liquid. ⚫︎ The right side is 㳂, which contributes to the sound and, according to some theories, originally depicted the idea of flowing or a channel. Together, the character evokes the image of a water channel or a ditch.