池(いけ)

いけ

noun

pond

1. pond

A small body of still water, smaller than a lake. Often found in gardens, parks, or natural settings.

池(いけ)に魚(さかな)がいる。

There are fish in the pond.

池(いけ)のまわりを歩(ある)きました。

I walked around the pond.

公園(こうえん)の池(いけ)に魚(さかな)がいます。

There are fish in the park pond.

庭(にわ)に小(ちい)さい池(いけ)を作(つく)りました。

I made a small pond in the garden.

子供(こども)たちは池(いけ)の近(ちか)くで遊(あそ)んでいました。でも、水(みず)に入(はい)らないように言(い)いました。

The children were playing near the pond. But I told them not to go in the water.

池(いけ) refers to a pond—a small body of still water, smaller than a lake.

Size comparison

池(いけ): pond (small)
湖(みずうみ): lake (large)
沼(ぬま): marsh, swamp

Common expressions

池(いけ)の魚(さかな): fish in a pond
池(いけ)のまわり: around the pond
池(いけ)に落(お)ちる: to fall into the pond

Compounds

池袋(いけぶくろ): Ikebukuro (place name)
電池(でんち): battery (electric + pond = cell)
池田(いけだ): Ikeda (surname/place)

Cultural note

Ponds are central to Japanese gardens (日本庭園(にほんていえん)). Koi ponds (鯉(こい)の池(いけ)) are popular and considered auspicious.

core

Added 2026.1.7 21:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:05

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