Word in Japanese/nature
Water in Japanese
Water translates as 水 (mizu). Below is a full breakdown with stroke counts, alternate writings, an example sentence, and tattoo design notes.
What it means
水 (mizu, みず) means water.
| Kanji | Meaning | Strokes | On'yomi | Kun'yomi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 水 | water | 4 | sui | mizu |
Compounds and related words
Common Japanese vocabulary built around this kanji.
| Word | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 水曜日 | suiyoubi | Wednesday |
| 海水 | kaisui | seawater |
| 水中 | suichuu | underwater |
Example sentence
水は命の源です。
Mizu wa inochi no minamoto desu.
Water is the source of life.
Tattoo design notes
水 is a clean four-stroke kanji and is the only natural single-character translation. Its shape resembles flowing water, which makes it a popular choice for elemental tattoos. Pair it with 火 (fire), 風 (wind), and 地 (earth) for a four-elements set.
Cultural notes
水 names Wednesday (水曜日, suiyoubi). In martial arts and philosophy, water is associated with adaptability and flow — Bruce Lee's famous be water phrase translates to 水になれ (mizu ni nare) in Japanese.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say water in Japanese?
Water in Japanese is 水, romanised as mizu and written in hiragana as みず. 水 names Wednesday (水曜日, suiyoubi). In martial arts and philosophy, water is associated with adaptability and flow — Bruce Lee's famous be water phrase translates to 水になれ (mizu ni nare) in Japanese.
What does the kanji 水 mean?
水 means "water" (4 strokes; on'yomi: sui; kun'yomi: mizu). Together the word reads as mizu.
Is 水 a good kanji for a tattoo?
水 is a clean four-stroke kanji and is the only natural single-character translation. Its shape resembles flowing water, which makes it a popular choice for elemental tattoos. Pair it with 火 (fire), 風 (wind), and 地 (earth) for a four-elements set.
How do you write water in hiragana?
In hiragana, water is written as みず, which represents the sound mizu. The kanji form 水 is used in everyday writing; hiragana is used when the kanji is too difficult, for emphasis, or in children's text.
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