泉(いずみ)

いずみ

noun

spring, source

geography

1. spring (of water)

A natural source of water emerging from the ground.

山(やま)の中(なか)に泉(いずみ)がある。

There's a spring in the mountains.

泉(いずみ)の水(みず)は冷(つめ)たい。

The spring water is cold.

泉(いずみ)が湧(わ)いているのを見(み)つけた。

I found a spring welling up.

2. source, wellspring

Figuratively, a source or origin of something.

知識(ちしき)の泉(いずみ)。

A fountain of knowledge.

Figurative usage

彼女(かのじょ)は創造力(そうぞうりょく)の泉(いずみ)だ。

She is a wellspring of creativity.

Figurative usage

子供(こども)の笑顔(えがお)は元気(げんき)の泉(いずみ)だと思(おも)う。

I think children's smiles are a source of energy.

Figurative usage

泉(いずみ) refers to a natural spring where water emerges from the ground. Also used figuratively to mean a source or wellspring of something (knowledge, creativity, energy, etc.).

Common patterns

泉(いずみ)が湧(わ)く: a spring wells up
〜の泉(いずみ): fountain/source of ~ (figurative)
泉(いずみ)の水(みず): spring water

Related words

温泉(おんせん): hot spring (Japan's famous bathing tradition)
噴水(ふんすい): fountain (man-made)
源泉(げんせん): source spring; original source
源(みなもと): source, origin

Cultural note

いずみ is a common given name, and the word appears in place names such as 和泉市(いずみし) in Osaka.

Related Words

Related: 温泉(おんせん) (hot spring)

Related: 噴水(ふんすい) (fountain)

Related: 源(みなもと) (source, origin)

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:15 · Revised 2026.10.9 16:16

01500/01787_izumi