<p>An air intake structure is provided with an air intake control valve (20) disposed in the air intake passage (13). The air intake control valve (20) has a valve element (23) pivotally mounted at one end adjacent to a passage wall of the air intake passage (13).
The air intake control valve (20) is configured to control a gas flow based on the rotational position of the valve element (23). A horizontal partitioning plate (25) extends along the flow direction of an intake air. The horizontal partitioning plate (25) can be stationary or moveable with the valve element (23). The valve element (23) has a swirl-producing notch (23c) and a vertical partitioning plate (26) extends substantially perpendicular to the horizontal partitioning plate (25) from a position corresponding to a vertical side edge (23f) of the swirl-producing notch (23c) when the air intake control valve (20) is fully closed. The vertical partitioning plate (26) can be stationary or moveable with the valve element (23).</p>
