How to Write 峪 (yù) — Meaning “valley; ravine”

Imagine a mountain (山) next to a big, deep valley (谷). The two parts together look like a mountain with a cleft in it, reminding you that 峪 is a valley or ravine between mountains. Picture a mountain having a 'yu' (sound like 'you') shaped gap where a river flows.

Write the left radical 山 with a narrow first stroke and a wider base. The right part 谷 has a top stroke (丷), then a horizontal 人 shape, and a bottom 口; make sure the 口 is centered under the 人 and not too small. A common mistake is making the 谷 too wide, so keep both sides balanced.

岢 (kě) and 岣 (gǒu) also use the mountain radical, but 峪 is pronounced yù and means valley, while 岢 is used only in place names like 岢岚 (Kělán) and 岣 appears in 岣嵝 (Gǒulǒu, a mountain name). Visually, 峪 has 谷 on the right, 岢 has 可 (possible), and 岣 has 句 (sentence), so the right side differs completely.

峪 appears in geographic names for valleys and mountain passes, such as 嘉峪关 (Jiāyù Guān), a famous Great Wall pass, and 山峪 (shān yù) meaning mountain valley. It is not common in daily conversation but is essential for reading place names and historical sites in China.

Common words containing 峪 include: 山峪 (shān yù) — Mountain valley; 嘉峪关 (jiā yù guān) — Jiayuguan (a famous pass of the Great Wall).; 峡峪 (xiá yù) — Gorge / Valley.