The kanji 谷 primarily represents a "valley" or "gorge". It signifies a low-lying area of land between hills or mountains, often with a stream or river running through it. The character conveys a sense of depth and the natural formation of the earth.

・On-yomi (音読み): コク (koku) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): たに (tani)

⚫︎渓谷 Translation: valley; gorge; canyon ⚫︎谷間 Translation: valley; hollow; dip; interval ⚫︎空谷 Translation: a secluded valley; a place of solitude

The kanji 谷 is a pictograph. The shape is derived from an image of a valley. The top part represents the mouth of a valley. The bottom part depicts the land or earth within the valley. The character initially showed the shape of a valley from above, emphasizing the slopes and bottom. Over time, the form has simplified but retains the concept of a valley.