Japanese word

沢

Pronunciation

Romajisawa

Meaning

  • nounmountain stream

Example

夏は沢で水遊びをします。natsu wa sawa de mizu aso bi o shi ma su

In summer, we play in the mountain stream.

Illustration for 沢 (mountain stream)

More examples

雨の後は、沢の水が急に増えます。ame no ato wa sawa no mizu ga kyū ni fu e ma su

After the rain, the water in the mountain stream rises suddenly.

Core concept

It centers on a water-filled passage through the mountains, viewed as both the channel and the narrow valley around it.

Common phrases

  • 沢に入るsawa ni hai ru

    enter the mountain stream

  • 沢を渡るsawa o wata ru

    cross a mountain stream

  • 沢の水sawa no mizu

    water from a mountain stream

Similar words

渓流keiryū: A stream that flows through a mountainous area, often in a narrow rocky channel.
谷川tanigawa: A stream running through a valley or between mountain slopes.

Definition in Japanese

山中の水が流れる谷、またはその流れ。san chū no mizu ga naga re ru tani ma ta wa so no naga re

Word origin

As a native Japanese word, 沢 (sawa) is an inherited, noncompound term for wet ground and the watercourse through it, and its kanji reflects this water-related sense.

Usage tips

  • The compound 沢登り (sawanobori) refers to ascending a mountain stream, so 沢 (sawa) appears in Japanese outdoor vocabulary as well as geographic descriptions.

Other meanings

  • ravinenoun

Word lists with this word