Translation and Meaning of: 湖 - mizuumi

The Japanese word 「湖」 (mizuumi) is composed of two main elements: the kanji 「湖」 and its reading in hiragana 「みずうみ」. This term refers to "lake" in English, representing a body of fresh water that is surrounded by land. The word itself is widely used in Japan, an archipelago rich in natural beauty and home to numerous lakes scattered throughout its territory.

The kanji 「湖」 has an interesting structure. It is composed of the combination of three radicals: 「氵」 (mizu), which means "water", 「古」 (ko), which means "ancient" or "old", and a part that can be interpreted as a phonetic ideogram. Thus, the etymological origin of 「湖」 can be seen as a junction of "water" and "something ancient", perhaps referencing the natural and stagnant presence of water over time.

The reading 「みずうみ」 (mizuumi) is of the kun'yomi type, which usually refers to the native Japanese reading of kanji, rather than the borrowed adaptation from Chinese. The term in modern Japanese for lake typically follows this reading, being common in conversations and writings that talk about geography and nature, such as in the description of tourist spots famous for their views and tranquility, like the 「富士五湖」 (Fuji Goko), which are five lakes located around Mount Fuji.

In this context, the use of the word 「湖」 and its variations is emblematic when studying the Japanese language, as it connects not only language with the unique geography of Japan but also a rich cultural tradition of appreciating and protecting natural resources. With over 2000 lakes across the country, understanding and using 「みずうみ」 is an essential component for those interested in Japanese topography and nature.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• みずうみ (mizuumi) - Lago
• 池 (ike) - Tank or lagoon, usually artificial
• 沼 (numa) - Swamp or wetland
• 沢 (sawa) - Wet vale or riverbank region
• 水たまり (mizutamari) - Pond or pool, usually temporary

湖

Romaji: mizuumi
Kana: みずうみ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: lago

Meaning in English: lake

Definition: A body of water surrounded by land.

Example Sentences - (湖) mizuumi

See below some example sentences:

この湖は美しいです。

Kono mizuumi wa utsukushii desu

This lake is beautiful.

This lake is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 湖 - noun that means "lake"
• は - topic particle that indicates the theme of the sentence, in this case, "the lake"
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form

ボートで湖を漕ぐのはとても楽しいです。

Bōto de mizuumi wo kogu no wa totemo tanoshii desu

Rowing a boat in a lake is a lot of fun.

It's a lot of fun to row a lake with a boat.

• ボート (bōto) - barco
• で (de) - in, with
• 湖 (mizuumi) - lago
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 漕ぐ (kogu) - remar
• の (no) - Possession particle
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• とても (totemo) - very
• 楽しい (tanoshii) - Fun, pleasant
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present