1.
surface of the water
The surface layer of a body of water, often used in literary or poetic contexts.
水面が光っている。
The water's surface is shining.
風で水面が揺れた。
The water's surface rippled in the wind.
月が水面に映って美しかった。
The moon reflected on the water's surface and it was beautiful.
READING DISTINCTION:
- 水面: poetic/literary reading (this entry)
- 水面: common/technical reading
The reading みなも evokes a literary, visual quality and is preferred in poetry, fiction, and descriptions of natural beauty. The reading すいめん is used in everyday speech and scientific contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 水面に映る: to be reflected on the water's surface
- 水面が揺れる: the water's surface ripples
- 水面に光が差す: light falls on the water's surface
- 水面を渡る風: wind crossing the water's surface
ETYMOLOGY:
From 水 (water, archaic reading) + 面 (surface, archaic reading). The classical Japanese reading gives it a more poetic quality than the on'yomi すいめん.