水
water
Examples
3 of 5毎日、水を二リットル飲みます。
I drink two liters of water every day.
お水をお持ちしましょうか。
Shall I bring you some water?
あ、水こぼしちゃった。
Oh, I spilled the water.
Word Family
Memory Tip
The kanji 水 (mizu) looks like a splashing stream with droplets flying off to the sides.
Quick Quiz
喉が渇いたので、___を飲みます。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 水
Examples
毎日、水を二リットル飲みます。
everydayI drink two liters of water every day.
お水をお持ちしましょうか。
formalShall I bring you some water?
あ、水こぼしちゃった。
informalOh, I spilled the water.
水は生命の維持に不可欠な資源である。
academicWater is an essential resource for the maintenance of life.
会議室にミネラルウォーターを準備してください。
businessPlease prepare mineral water in the meeting room.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
水に流す
to forgive and forget (lit. let it flow in the water)
寝耳に水
a complete surprise (lit. water in the ear while sleeping)
水と油
polar opposites (lit. water and oil)
Often Confused With
Mizu is for cold or room temperature water; Oyu is specifically for hot water (used for drinking tea or bathing).
Usage Notes
When ordering at a restaurant, it is polite to add the honorific 'o' to make it 'o-mizu'. Use 'mizu' for natural bodies of water or tap water.
Common Mistakes
English speakers often use 'mizu' to mean any H2O regardless of temperature, but asking for 'mizu' when you want to make tea will result in being given cold water.
Memory Tip
The kanji 水 (mizu) looks like a splashing stream with droplets flying off to the sides.
Word Origin
Derived from Old Japanese 'midu', which is shared across Japonic languages.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Japan, tap water is safe to drink nationwide and is almost always provided for free at restaurants.
Quick Quiz
喉が渇いたので、___を飲みます。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 水
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
More food words
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