1.
river
A large natural stream of water flowing to the sea.
川を渡る。
To cross a river.
川で魚を釣った。
I caught fish in the river.
雨が続いて、川の水が増えている。
The rain has continued and the river water has risen.
この川は深いので、子どもだけで遊んではいけない。
This river is deep, so children must not play here alone.
夏になると、子どもたちが川で泳いだり魚を釣ったりして遊ぶ。
When summer comes, children swim and fish in the river for fun.
2.
stream
A smaller body of flowing water.
小さな川がある。
There is a small stream.
山から川が流れている。
A stream flows from the mountain.
川の音を聞きながら散歩した。
I went for a walk while listening to the sound of the stream.
村の近くに小さな川があって、夏はよく遊びに行った。
There was a small stream near the village, and in summer I often went to play there.
静かな森の中を小さな川が流れていて、水の音がとても気持ちよかった。
A small stream flowed through the quiet forest, and the sound of the water was very pleasant.
川 means river or stream - a natural body of flowing water.
READINGS IN COMPOUNDS:
- かわ: standalone or beginning of compound (川魚)
- がわ: often at end of place names (隅田川)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 川で泳ぐ: to swim in a river
- 川を渡る: to cross a river
- 川が流れる: a river flows
- 川に沿って: along the river
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 川岸: riverbank
- 川上: upstream
- 川下: downstream
- 小川: stream, brook
- 河川: rivers (formal/official term)
FAMOUS JAPANESE RIVERS:
- 信濃川: Shinano River (longest in Japan)
- 利根川: Tone River
- 隅田川: Sumida River (Tokyo)
- 淀川: Yodo River (Osaka)
RELATED WORDS:
- 河: river (alternative kanji, used in formal/literary contexts)
- 海: sea
- 湖: lake