1.
spring water; water from a natural spring
Water that flows naturally from the ground. Valued in Japan for its purity and taste, spring water sites are often tourist destinations and sources of local pride.
山の湧き水は冷たくておいしい。
Spring water from the mountains is cold and delicious.
ここの湧き水は昔から飲み水として使われてきた。
The spring water here has been used as drinking water since long ago.
地元の人たちが毎朝ペットボトルを持って湧き水を汲みに来る。
Local people come every morning with plastic bottles to draw spring water.
USAGE:
Japan has many famous spring water sites (名水), and visiting them is a form of nature tourism. Spring water is prized for making tofu, sake, and tea. The word carries connotations of purity and naturalness.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 湧き水を汲む (to draw spring water)
- 湧き水スポット (spring water spot)
- 天然の湧き水 (natural spring water)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 泉: spring, fountain — the source itself, broader meaning
- 地下水: groundwater — water underground, more technical