ChiramiN5 kanji · 4 strokes
水 means water
水
水Real origin
It began as flowing water, with drops splashing at the sides.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meaning
- water
- JLPT level
- N5
- Strokes
- 4
- School grade
- Grade 1 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) みず mizu
みず (mizu) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) スイ sui
スイ (sui) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
水曜日 すいようび · suiyoubi
Wednesday
Quick check
What does 水 mean?
Right: 水 means water.Not quite: 水 means water.In 水曜日, which reading does 水 use?
Right. 水曜日 is read すいようび (suiyoubi): 水 takes スイ, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 水曜日 is read すいようび (suiyoubi): 水 takes スイ, its reading from Chinese.