水

• Reading: みず
• Romaji: mizu
• Kanji breakdown: 水 (sui/mizu) — water
• Pronunciation: /mi.zɯ/

Meaning

Water, especially cool or cold water. The basic word for water.

Specifically refers to cold or room-temperature water. Hot water is called お湯 (oyu), which is a distinct word rather than just 'hot water.' At Japanese restaurants, cold water (お冷 or お水) is served free of charge. Tap water in Japan is safe to drink throughout the country.

Examples

1. 水をください。 Water, please.
2. 暑いから水をたくさん飲みました。 It was hot, so I drank a lot of water.
3. この水はとても冷たいです。 This water is very cold.

Usage Guide

Context: restaurants, daily life, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 水 is a pictograph of flowing water, depicting a stream with droplets. It is one of the five classical elements in East Asian philosophy.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal