What is the Kanji for "Water"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Water", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Water" is "水".

This kanji has 2 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Mizu".

Its onyomi reading is "Sui".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 3 parts:

The radical "亅" means "Barb" . The radical "く" means "Hiragana ku" . And The radical "フ" means "Katakana fu" .

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "水" mean in japanese?

"水" means "Water".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in First Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N5 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

水曜日: "Wednesday". The Japanese noun '水曜日 (すいようび)' refers to the fourth day of the week, which is Wednesday. It is one of the seven days that make up the week. Some examples: Wednesday is my favorite day of the week - (水曜日が一番好きな曜日です). We have a meeting every Wednesday - (毎水曜日にミーティングがあります).

水: "Water". The Japanese noun '水 (みず)' means 'water'. This word is used to refer to the clear liquid that falls as rain, flows in rivers, and is used for drinking, washing, and many other domestic and industrial purposes. Water is an essential substance for all living organisms. For example: Clean water - (きれいな水), Drinking water - (飲み水)

水泳: "Swimming". The Japanese verbal noun '水泳 (すいえい)' means 'swimming'. This noun refers to the physical activity of moving through water by using the limbs. It is commonly used to describe the act of swimming for exercise, recreation, or competition. For example: I enjoy swimming - (私は水泳が好きです). Swimming is a good exercise - (水泳は良い運動です).

大水: "Flood". The Japanese noun '大水 (おおみず)' means 'flood'. This word refers to an overflow of a large amount of water, often caused by heavy rain or a river bursting its banks. It can describe a major flooding event that causes damage to property and the environment. For example: The town was devastated by the massive flood - (その町は大水に襲われ壊滅的な被害を受けた). The flood left the fields completely submerged - (大水は畑を完全に水没させた).

水中: "Underwater". The Japanese noun '水中 (すいちゅう)' means 'underwater'. It refers to the area below the surface of a body of water. This word is used to describe things that are located or occurring in the water rather than above it. For example: Diving underwater - (水中にダイビングする). The underwater camera captured the fish - (水中カメラが魚を撮影した).

下水: "Sewage". The Japanese noun '下水 (げすい)' means 'sewage'. It refers to the waste water and other matter that is carried away through a system of pipes and drains. '下水' is often used to describe the drainage system itself, as well as the contents that flow through it. For example: The sewage pipe was blocked - (下水管が詰まっていた). The sewage treatment plant - (下水処理場)

水力: "Hydropower". The Japanese noun '水力 (すいりょく)' refers to hydropower, which is a form of renewable energy generated by the force of flowing water. This can be from natural sources like rivers and streams, or can be artificially created by dams. Hydropower is a clean and sustainable source of electricity, and has been an important part of Japan's energy mix. For example: Hydropower provides 8% of Japan's electricity - (水力は日本の電力の8%を提供する).

水田: "Paddy field". The Japanese noun '水田 (すいでん)' refers to a paddy field, which is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice or other wetland crops. Paddy fields are a common sight in many rural areas of Japan and are an integral part of the country's agricultural landscape. They require constant irrigation and careful management to maintain productivity. For example: The farmer works in the paddy field - (農家は水田で作業する). Rice is grown in the paddy fields - (米は水田で育てられる).

飲料水: "Drinking water". The Japanese noun '飲料水 (いんりょうすい)' means 'drinking water'. This refers to water that is safe and suitable for human consumption. Drinking water is essential for maintaining proper hydration and health. It is commonly found in bottles, taps, and other sources. For example: I drank a bottle of drinking water - (私は飲料水のボトルを飲みました).

水準: "Level". The noun '水準 (すいじゅん)' means 'level'. It refers to a particular standard, degree, or position that something is at. This word can be used to describe the level of education, living standards, difficulty, technology, and more. For example: The living standard in this country is at a high level - (この国の生活水準は高い). The company aims to raise the quality level of their products - (その会社は製品の水準を上げることを目指している).

水族館: "Aquarium". The Japanese noun '水族館 (すいぞくかん)' refers to an aquarium, which is a facility where aquatic animals and plants are kept and displayed for public viewing and study. Aquariums often feature a variety of marine life such as fish, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and corals. They are popular tourist attractions that allow people to observe and learn about the underwater world. For example: We went to the aquarium to see the sharks - (私たちは水族館に行って、サメを見ました).

水平: "Horizontal". The adjectival noun '水平 (すいへい)' means 'horizontal'. This refers to something that is parallel to the horizon, or flat and level. It is commonly used to describe the orientation or position of objects. For example: The table is perfectly horizontal - (テーブルは完全に水平だ). The picture frame needs to be hung in a horizontal position - (写真立ては水平に掛ける必要がある).

水平線: "Horizon". The Japanese noun '水平線 (すいへいせん)' refers to the line where the sky and earth or sea appear to meet. This is known as the 'horizon'. The horizon is the apparent line that divides the visible portion of the earth's surface from the sky. For example: I could see the horizon from the top of the hill - (丘の上から水平線が見えた). The sun set below the horizon - (太陽が水平線の下に沈んだ).

水害: "Flood". The Japanese noun '水害 (すいがい)' refers to flood damage or flooding. This term is used to describe the harmful effects and destruction caused by an excess of water, such as from heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, or natural disasters. 水害 emphasizes the negative impact and devastation resulting from flooding. For example: The town was severely damaged by the flood - (その町は水害で大きな被害を受けた). Flood disaster - (水害)

洪水: "Flood". The Japanese noun '洪水 (こうずい)' means 'flood'. This word refers to an overflow of water that submerges land which is normally dry. Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall, melting snow, breaches in dams or levees, or other factors. Floods can have devastating effects on communities and the environment. For example: Heavy rain caused a flood in the city - (大雨が都市部に洪水を引き起こした). The flood destroyed many homes - (洪水が多くの家屋を破壊した).

水洗: "Flushing" or "Washing". The Japanese verbal noun '水洗 (すいせん)' has two main meanings. The first meaning is 'flushing', referring to the action of flushing or rinsing something with water. This is commonly used in the context of flushing a toilet. The second meaning is 'washing', referring to the action of washing or cleaning something with water. This can be used in the context of washing dishes, clothes, or other items. Example sentences: I flushed the toilet - (トイレを水洗した). Washing the car - (車を水洗する).

水素: "Hydrogen". The Japanese noun '水素 (すいそ)' refers to the chemical element hydrogen. Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element in the universe. It is a colorless, odorless gas that is highly flammable. Hydrogen is a key component in the chemical composition of many compounds and is used in various industrial and scientific applications. For example: Hydrogen gas can be used to power vehicles - (水素ガスは自動車の燃料として使用できる).

海水浴: "Swimming". The verbal noun '海水浴 (かいすいよく)' means 'swimming'. This word refers to the act of swimming, specifically in the ocean or sea. It is commonly used to describe the popular summer activity of going to the beach and swimming in the ocean. For example: Let's go to the beach for swimming - (海水浴に行きましょう). I enjoy swimming in the ocean - (海水浴が好きです).

香水: "Perfume". The Japanese noun '香水 (こうすい)' means 'perfume'. It refers to a fragrant liquid that is applied to the body, hair, or clothing to provide a pleasant scent. Perfumes are often used to enhance one's personal aroma and can be found in a variety of scents and formulations. For example: I bought a new bottle of perfume - (新しい香水を買いました). She sprayed perfume on her wrists - (彼女は手首に香水をスプレーした).

水道: "Water pipe". The Japanese noun '水道 (すいどう)' refers to a water pipe or water supply system. It is used to describe the infrastructure that provides clean, running water to homes, buildings, and other locations. '水道' can also be used to refer to the municipal water supply service. For example: Turn on the water pipe - (水道をひらく). The water pipe was leaking - (水道がもれていた).

水分: "Moisture". The noun '水分 (すいぶん)' refers to the water content or fluid component present in something. It is commonly used to describe the degree of wetness or dampness of a substance. For example: The soil has good moisture content - (土の水分量が良い). This plant needs more moisture - (この植物にはもっと水分が必要だ).

飲み水: "Drinking water". The Japanese noun '飲み水 (のみみず)' refers to water that is suitable for drinking. It is commonly used to distinguish safe, potable water from other types of water that may not be fit for consumption. For example: I need to refill my water bottle with drinking water - (飲み水でボトルを補給しなくちゃ). The drinking water at this restaurant is delicious - (この店の飲み水はおいしい).

水着: "Swimsuit". The Japanese noun '水着 (みずぎ)' means 'swimsuit'. This word refers to the clothing worn for swimming or other water activities. Swimsuits come in various styles and designs, such as one-piece, two-piece, or bikini. They are typically made of water-resistant and flexible materials. For example: She's wearing a nice swimsuit - (彼女はきれいな水着を着ている). I need to buy a new swimsuit for the beach - (海に行く新しい水着が必要だ).

水色: "Light blue". The Japanese noun '水色 (みずいろ)' refers to a pale, light blue color that resembles the color of water. It is a common color used in Japanese traditional designs and aesthetics. For example: The girl's dress was a beautiful light blue - (その女の子のドレスが水色でとてもきれいでした).

断水: "Water outage". The Japanese verbal noun '断水 (だんすい)' means 'water outage'. It refers to a situation where the water supply is interrupted or cut off, often due to repairs, maintenance, or other issues with the water infrastructure. This can occur in homes, buildings, or entire neighborhoods. Examples: There is a water outage in our area today - (我が地域で今日断水があります). The building has experienced a prolonged water outage - (その建物は長期の断水に見舞われている).

海水: "Seawater". The noun '海水 (かいすい)' refers to the water found in the world's oceans and seas. It is a saline solution composed primarily of water and dissolved salts. '海水' can be used to describe the water itself, as well as water taken from the ocean for various purposes. For example: The seawater was cold and salty - (海水は冷たく塩辛かった). We used the seawater to make salt - (私たちは海水を使って塩を作りました).

水面: "Surface". The Japanese noun '水面 (すいめん)' means 'surface'. It specifically refers to the surface of a body of water, such as a lake, ocean, or river. This word is commonly used to describe the smooth, flat appearance of the top layer of a body of water. For example: The surface of the lake was calm - (湖の水面は穏やかだった). The rain created ripples on the surface of the water - (雨が水面にさざ波を立てた).

噴水: "Fountain". The Japanese noun '噴水 (ふんすい)' refers to a fountain, which is an artificial structure that projects water into the air in a decorative or ornamental manner. Fountains are often found in public spaces, parks, or gardens and are used to enhance the aesthetics of the surrounding environment. For example: The park has a beautiful fountain in the center - (公園の中央に素敵な噴水があります)。There is a magnificent fountain in the town square - (町の中心にすばらしい噴水があります).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "す" is read as "su". The hiragana "い" is read as "i". The hiragana "み" is read as "mi". And The hiragana "ず" is read as "zu".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.