水 (Water) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji
GokuGoku
6 min reading time
Updated on 3 September 2022
水
Kun readings 🇯🇵
On readings 🇨🇳
The kanji 水 which represents the water originates in its pictogram, that is, in the design that represents the element to which it refers. The pictograms are one of the first forms of writing and from their evolution the ideograms were born, in Japanese 漢字.
In the image we see a river, the idea that water expresses is that of continuous flowing.
Onsen and public baths in Japan
水 indicates water as a natural element and specifically refers to cold water.
The hot water has its own specific kanji 湯: the water element appears in the radical 氵.
氵 this sign represents the water element 水 as a radical present in various kanji
湯は温めた水です。
Yu stands for heated water.
As you explore Japan you may find these structures on whose sign, often a tent (noren), there is the kana ゆ, that is the reading of 湯.
These are public toilets aimed at personal hygiene by paying an entrance fee. Depending on the location you can find thermal water like onsen or regular water from the local water system.
- 銭湯 is another term for this type of public bathroom
The Japanese baths or thermal baths are internationally known by the original Japanese name onsen 温泉.
The word is made up of the two kanji:
温 is adjective 温い
hotand verb 温めるreheat泉 is the
source, thefountainand singularly the kanji is read いずみ
We also find this element in the days of the week, on Wednesday 水曜日 and the planet dedicated to this element is 水星 Mercury.
Water and chemistry
If you find 水分 on the label of a food or drink, it refers to the water content present.
As you can see in the label applied to a Japanese food product, we have the table 表 of the nutritional 栄養 components 成分 and the element that interests us connected to water, is the:
炭水化物
carbohydrate; 炭 iscoal水溶性 is the
water solubility, 溶ける is a verb which means to melt, dissolve and 性 indicates thenatureof a person and the characteristic of a thing
If we want to order sparkling water at the bar or restaurant, ask for 炭酸水 or from the English sparkling water スパークリングウォーター.
If instead we prefer natural water we order 天然水 or ナチュラルミネラルウォーター from natural mineral water.
- 水晶 the
rock crystal
Water and environment
In nature we find:
the
rainwater雨水 which can also be read あまみずand the
groundwaterfrom the soil 地下水
In Japan we have:
- the 琵琶湖 the beautiful
Lake Biwain the area of Kyoto, Shiga prefecture
In Italy**:
- the マッジョーレ 湖
Lake Maggiore
In Canada:
- グレートベア 湖
Great Bear Lake
日本海 The
Sea of Japanアドリア 海 the
Adriatic Seaカリブ 海 the
Sea of Caraibi
Waterfalls and fountains
- 滝 the
waterfall; very interesting kanji, because it associates the water element with the mythological creature of the dragon 竜 which nin Japanese and Chinese tradition is connected to water.
The ideograms are splendid miniatures where each part has its own identity, a single meaning, but united they give life to the painting as a whole.
- 泉 the
fountain, in this kanji as you see the water element appears as we know it 水
Water in the kitchen and at the bar
水を切る。
Drain the water.
水を温める。
Heat the water.
水を追加する。
Add water.
- 塩水
water and salt
Those who love alcoholic beverages will experience and perhaps appreciate in Japan 水割り mizuwari which literally means cutting, mixing with water. It is a popular way of drinking alcohol in Japan; generally about two parts of cold water are mixed with one part of liqueur and ice.
In restaurants in Japan, 氷水, water with ice (氷), is offered as a service.
お水を頂けますか。
Can I have a glass of water, please?
Sports and Hobbies
- 水泳 is the word that indicates
swimmingas a sporting activity; the second kanji represents the verb 泳ぐ
The word that translates the swimsuit is 水着 and the second kanji represents the verb 着る, to wear.
Japanese surnames containing 水
水田
Mizutasurname水口
Mizuguchisurname清水
Shimizusurname水谷
Mizutanisurname泉水
Izumi, feminine name水咲
Misaki, feminine name水蓮
Suiren, male name
