Learn Japanese Kanji - Aesthetic Guide

Lesson 14: 水 (Water)

Radicals in 水

The kanji 水 (mizu, meaning "water") is a simple yet profound character that stands alone as its own radical, Radical 85. Its shape mimics the flow and essence of water itself.

水 (Water Radical): Radical 85, the entire character, represents water with a central stroke flanked by two curved lines, evoking ripples or a flowing stream.

Visually, 水’s three main strokes—a vertical line with two outward curves—suggest the movement and fluidity of water, capturing its life-giving nature in a minimalist form. Fun fact: As a radical, it appears in many kanji related to liquids or flow, like 河 (river) and 海 (sea), underscoring its elemental importance.

Examples of 水 in Use

Here are some common words and phrases using 水:

水 (mizu)

Meaning: Water

Hiragana: みず

Example: 水を飲む。
(Mizu o nomu.)
"I drink water."

水道 (suidō)

Meaning: Water supply / Tap water

Hiragana: すいどう

Example: 水道をひねる。
(Suidō o hineru.)
"I turn on the tap."

雨水 (usui)

Meaning: Rainwater

Hiragana: うすい

Example: 雨水が溜まる。
(Usui ga tamaru.)
"Rainwater collects."

水面 (minamo)

Meaning: Water surface

Hiragana: みなも

Example: 水面が静かだ。
(Minamo ga shizuka da.)
"The water surface is calm."

氷水 (kōrimizu)

Meaning: Ice water

Hiragana: こおりみず

Example: 氷水が冷たい。
(Kōrimizu ga tsumetai.)
"The ice water is cold."

水色 (mizuiro)

Meaning: Light blue / Aqua

Hiragana: みずいろ

Example: 水色の空が好きだ。
(Mizuiro no sora ga suki da.)
"I like the aqua sky."

水辺 (mizube)

Meaning: Waterside / Shore

Hiragana: みずべ

Example: 水辺で遊ぶ。
(Mizube de asobu.)
"I play by the waterside."

水流 (suiryū)

Meaning: Water current

Hiragana: すいりゅう

Example: 水流が強い。
(Suiryū ga tsuyoi.)
"The water current is strong."

水滴 (suiteki)

Meaning: Water drop

Hiragana: すいてき

Example: 水滴が落ちる。
(Suiteki ga ochiru.)
"A water drop falls."

清水 (shimizu)

Meaning: Clear water / Spring water

Hiragana: しみず

Example: 清水が美味しい。
(Shimizu ga oishii.)
"The spring water is delicious."

The kanji 水 embodies the fluid and essential nature of water, flowing through both the physical world and the language as a symbol of life and purity.