Japanese word

湧く

Pronunciation

Romajiwaku

Meaning

  • verbspring up

Example

地面から水が湧きます。ji men ka ra mizu ga wa ki ma su

Water springs up from the ground.

Illustration for 湧く (spring up)

More examples

授業中に新しい疑問が湧きました。ju gyō chū ni atara shi i gi mon ga wa ki ma shi ta

A new question arose during class.

Core concept

Describes water or another liquid emerging naturally from within the ground or another source.

Common phrases

  • 興味が湧くkyō mi ga wa ku

    interest arises

  • 疑問が湧くgi mon ga wa ku

    questions arise

  • 意欲が湧くi yoku ga wa ku

    motivation arises

  • 勇気が湧くyū ki ga wa ku

    courage wells up

  • 地下から湧くchi ka ka ra wa ku

    spring from underground

Similar words

湧き出るwakideru: To emerge naturally from underground or another source as a liquid.
浮かぶukabu: To appear in the mind as a thought, idea, or question.

Definition in Japanese

水や液体などが、地中や物の内部から自然に出てくる。mizu ya eki tai na do ga chi chū ya mono no nai bu ka ra shi zen ni de te ku ru

Word origin

湧く (waku) is an inherited Japanese verb formed as a single native word, with no separate modern word parts; its meaning centers on emerging from within.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase well up can describe tears or feelings, whereas 湧く (waku) in this sense describes water emerging from a source.

Other meanings

  • gush outverb
  • well upverb

Word lists with this word