谷

1. Topographical: valley, gorge, ravine, or deep cleft; typically a linear depression between hills or mountains often associated with seclusion and water flow.

2. Agricultural/Economic: grain, cereal, or food staples (used as a loanword for 穀).

3. Philosophical/Abstract: emptiness, receptivity, and humility; specifically in Daoist texts where the valley serves as a metaphor for an inexhaustible void or non-striving (e.g., 谷神 "Valley Spirit").

Unlike general pits or holes (e.g., 坑, 穴), 谷 implies a carved-out geographical feature.

• Pre-Qin/Archaic: Frequently used as a loanword for 穀.
• Variants: U+7A40 and U+8C37 (the latter being the modern simplified form).

When the glyph appears in contexts involving harvest, taxation, or sustenance rather than geography, it should be read as "grain."