水 means “water”

みず · mizu

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): みず
On'yomi (Chinese reading): スイ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 4 strokes

The story

Crystal streams flow from snow-capped peaks, pure water reflecting autumn leaves.

Essential element in Japanese philosophy

Where it comes from

Pictographic (象形文字): A flowing stream with splashing droplets.

Ancient scribes drew a stream of water: a central flow with droplets splashing to each side. The modern character preserves this beautifully: a central stroke (the current) with strokes curving away (the splashes).

To remember it: The center stroke is the main current, the strokes on the sides are water splashing outward.

Its parts

水 Water · Entire character

A pictograph of flowing water with a central current and side splashes

Words with 水

雨水 (あまみず, amamizu): rainwater
海水 (かいすい, kaisui): seawater
氷水 (こおりみず, koorimizu): ice water
水鳥 (みずどり, mizudori): waterfowl
水草 (みずくさ, mizukusa): aquatic plants
降水 (こうすい, kousui): precipitation
水道 (すいどう, suidou): water supply
水色 (みずいろ, mizuiro): light blue

Example sentences

水を飲みたいです。 I want to drink water.
水曜日に会いましょう。 Let's meet on Wednesday.
この水はとても冷たいです。 This water is very cold.

Kanji that look like 水

氷 (ice): 氷 adds a small stroke on the left of 水: water that has frozen
永 (eternity): 永 adds a dot at the top: water flowing forever

More from Nature's Poetry

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