沟 (gōu) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 沟 (gōu) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 沟 (gōu) means "Ditch / Channel". It is an HSK Level 5 character, with 7 strokes and the radical 氵.

Q: How do you write 沟 stroke by stroke?

沟 has 7 strokes. The radical is 氵. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 沟 and 㳄?

沟 (gōu) and 㳄 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 沟?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 氵. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 沟?

Common words containing 沟 include: 沟通 (gōu tōng) — Communicate; 水沟 (shuǐ gōu) — Ditch / Gutter; 代沟 (dài gōu) — generation gap.

How to Write 沟

The character 沟 (gōu) is written with 7 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 氵 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

沟 is pronounced gōu in Mandarin Chinese. It means Ditch / Channel.

As an HSK Level 5 character, 沟 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 沟

沟通 gōu tōng

Communicate

水沟 shuǐ gōu

Ditch / Gutter

代沟 dài gōu

generation gap

Example Sentences

我们要多沟通。

wǒ men yào duō gōu tōng

We should communicate more.

路边有一个小水沟。

lù biān yǒu yí gè xiǎo shuǐ gōu

There is a small ditch by the roadside.

父母和孩子有代沟。

fù mǔ hé hái zi yǒu dài gōu

There is a generation gap between parents and children.

Similar Characters

㳄 xián

氿 guǐ

汀 tīng

Practice Writing 沟 (gōu)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 沟 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 沟

What does 沟 (gōu) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 沟 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 沟 and 㳄?

What mistakes do learners make writing 沟?

What common words use 沟?

How to Write 沟 (gōu)