Japanese word

下水

Pronunciation

Romajigesui

Meaning

  • nounsewage

Example

市は下水を処理します。shi wa ge sui o sho ri shi ma su

The city treats sewage.

Illustration for 下水 (sewage)

More examples

大雨の後は、下水の量が増えることがあります。ō ame no ato wa ge sui no ryō ga fu e ru ko to ga a ri ma su

The amount of sewage can increase after heavy rain.

Core concept

Describes dirty water that flows away from homes and other buildings for collection and treatment.

Common phrases

  • 下水を処理するge sui o sho ri su ru

    treat sewage

  • 下水処理場ge sui sho ri jō

    sewage treatment plant

Similar words

汚水osui: Water made dirty by household, commercial, or other human activity.
排水haisui: Used water released from a building, facility, or piece of land.
廃水haisui: Used water released during manufacturing or other industrial work.

Definition in Japanese

家庭や工場などから出る、汚れを含んだ排水。ka tei ya kō jō na do ka ra de ru yogo re o fuku n da hai sui

Word origin

Combines 下 (ge, "below") and 水 (sui, "water"), referring to water that flows below ground and comes to mean wastewater.

Usage tips

  • English distinguishes sewage, the wastewater itself, from sewerage, the system of pipes and facilities that carries it.

Other meanings

  • seweragenoun
  • drainagenoun

Word lists with this word