Definition

1. Noun:
   • Basin; catchment area: The geographical area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. All precipitation that falls within this area flows into that river system.
   • Valley (in specific contexts): Can refer to the valley of a major river system, especially when used in compound forms like "lưu vực sông" (river basin/valley).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lưu vực sông Mekong rất rộng lớn. (The Mekong River basin is very vast.)
  • Cần bảo vệ môi trường sinh thái của toàn bộ lưu vực. (It is necessary to protect the ecological environment of the entire catchment area.)
  • Lũ lụt thường xảy ra ở vùng hạ lưu vực. (Floods often occur in the lower part of the river basin.)

Advanced Usage

• "Thượng lưu vực": upper basin/catchment (the upstream part of a river basin).
  • Thượng lưu vực sông Đà có địa hình hiểm trở. (The upper basin of the Da River has rugged terrain.)
• "Hạ lưu vực": lower basin/catchment (the downstream part of a river basin).
  • Hạ lưu vực sông Cửu Long là vùng đồng bằng phì nhiêu. (The lower basin of the Mekong River is a fertile delta region.)
• "Quản lý lưu vực": basin management.
  • Quản lý lưu vực tổng hợp là một thách thức lớn. (Integrated river basin management is a major challenge.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lưu vực sông (noun phrase): River basin. This is the most common compound form.
  • Ủy hội sông Mekong quản lý lưu vực sông Mekong. (The Mekong River Commission manages the Mekong River basin.)
• Tiểu lưu vực (noun): Sub-basin.
  • Dự án tập trung vào một tiểu lưu vực của sông Hồng. (The project focuses on a sub-basin of the Red River.)

Synonyms

• Vùng thoát nước: Drainage area/basin.
• Vùng tụ thủy: Catchment area (less common).
• Bồn địa: Basin (in a broader geological sense, can sometimes overlap in context).

Related Phrases / Collocations

• Ranh giới lưu vực: Basin boundary/watershed divide.
  • Ranhh giới lưu vực được xác định bằng đường phân thủy. (The basin boundary is determined by the watershed divide.)
• Lưu vực hồ: Lake basin/catchment.
  • Lưu vực hồ Tây có cảnh quan rất đẹp. (The West Lake basin has a very beautiful landscape.)

Notes on Meaning

• While "valley" is sometimes used in translations (e.g., Red River Valley), the primary and more precise meaning of "lưu vực" is basin or catchment. A "valley" ("thung lũng") refers more specifically to the low area between hills or mountains, often containing a river. A "lưu vực" is a broader hydrological and geographical unit that encompasses the entire area draining into a river system, which may include many valleys, plains, and hills.

noun

1. barin; valley
   • lưu vực sông Hồng Hà
     the Red River valley