湖(みずうみ)

みずうみ
noun
lake
1. lake
A large body of water surrounded by land. Bigger than a pond (池(いけ)).
湖(みずうみ)で泳(およ)ぎました。
I swam in the lake.
きれいな湖(みずうみ)ですね。
It's a beautiful lake, isn't it?
湖(みずうみ)のまわりを歩(ある)きましょう。
Let's walk around the lake.
この湖(みずうみ)は魚(さかな)がたくさんいます。
This lake has many fish.
山(やま)の中(なか)にある静(しず)かな湖(みずうみ)で、家族(かぞく)と一緒(いっしょ)にキャンプをしました。
We camped with our family at a quiet lake in the mountains.

湖(みずうみ) refers to a lake - a large body of water surrounded by land.

ETYMOLOGY:
Composed of 水(みず) (water) + 海(うみ) (sea), literally "water-sea."

SIZE DISTINCTION:

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

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 湖(みずうみ)の畔(ほとり): lakeside
  • 湖(みずうみ)を一周(いっしゅう)する: to go around the lake
  • 湖(みずうみ)で釣(つ)りをする: to fish in a lake

FAMOUS JAPANESE LAKES:

  • 琵琶湖(びわこ): Lake Biwa (largest in Japan)
  • 河口湖(かわぐちこ): Lake Kawaguchi (near Mt. Fuji)
  • 十和田湖(とわだこ): Lake Towada

NOTE:
Lake names often use ～湖(こ) suffix: 琵琶(びわ)湖(こ), 河口(かわぐち)湖(こ).

core
Added 2026.1.7 21:45 · Revised 2026.2.19 11:19
00500/00867_mizuumi