潮(しお)

しお
noun
tide, current
nature
See also: 塩(しお) (salt)
1. tide, tidal flow
The rise and fall of sea water caused by gravitational forces. Also refers to the flow of ocean currents.
潮(しお)が満(み)ちてきた。
The tide has come in.
潮(しお)の流(なが)れが速(はや)い。
The tidal current is fast.
潮(しお)が引(ひ)いたら、岩場(いわば)で貝(かい)を拾(ひろ)える。
When the tide goes out, you can pick up shellfish on the rocks.
2. opportunity, good time
A favorable moment or turning point. Often used in the expression 潮(しお)どき (a good time to do something).
そろそろ潮(しお)どきだ。
It's about time (to go/act).
引(ひ)き際(ぎわ)の潮(しお)どきを見極(みきわ)める。
To judge the right moment to withdraw.
会議(かいぎ)が長引(ながび)いてきたので、潮(しお)どきを見(み)て席(せき)を立(た)った。
The meeting was dragging on, so I found the right moment and excused myself.

Usage

潮(しお) refers to ocean tides and currents. Not to be confused with 塩(しお) (salt), which is a homophone.

Common collocations

Writing

潮(しお) can also be read as うしお, an older literary reading.

Related Words

Homophone: 塩(しお) (salt)
Related: 潮流(ちょうりゅう) (tide/trend)
general
Added 2026.2.24 20:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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