Kanji meanings › Water
Kanji for Water
Japanese has more than one kanji connected to “water”: 水、潮、洸、澪、汀. Each has its own feeling. Compare their meanings, readings and the names they appear in.
water
Water, one of the five elements of old East Asian thought; gentle yet able to wear down stone.
4 strokes On reading スイ (sui) Kun reading みず (mizu) JLPT N4
Dictionary meanings: water
Readings used for names on Nazuke: sui, mizu
In Japan it appears in about 971 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
tide
The tide of the sea.
15 strokes On reading チョウ (chou) Kun reading しお、うしお (shio, ushio) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: tide, salt water, opportunity
Readings used for names on Nazuke: shio, chou
In Japan it appears in about 85 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 潮: Horacio 帆礼潮 · Ignacio 郁南潮 · Mauricio 真羽理潮 · Concepcion 紺世富潮
More about 潮 →sparkling water
Water glittering in the light; deep and brilliant.
9 strokes On reading コウ (kou) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: sparkling water
Readings used for names on Nazuke: kou, hiro
In Japan it appears in about 76 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, in both boys’ and girls’ names.
waterway
The channel where a boat can safely pass.
16 strokes On reading レイ (rei) Kun reading みお (mio) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: water route, shipping channel
Readings used for names on Nazuke: mio, rei
In Japan it appears in about 103 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
More about 澪 →shore
The water’s edge, where the waves meet the sand.
5 strokes On reading テイ (tei) Kun reading みぎわ、なぎさ (migiwa, nagisa) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: water's edge, shore, bank
Readings used for names on Nazuke: tei
In Japan it appears in about 69 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Thinking of a tattoo? A single kanji like these is meaningful on its own, but ask a native speaker to check the exact form and stroke order before you commit.
Put it in your name
Nazuke writes your first name in kanji, choosing characters for both sound and meaning.