用 水 路(ようすいろ)

ようすいろ

noun

irrigation channel; canal; waterway

1. irrigation channel; canal; waterway

An artificial channel built to supply water for agriculture, industry, or other uses. Common in rural Japan for rice paddy irrigation.

田(た)んぼに水(みず)を引(ひ)く用水路(ようすいろ)がある。

There is an irrigation channel that supplies water to the rice paddies.

用水路(ようすいろ)の掃除(そうじ)は地域(ちいき)の住民(じゅうみん)が協力(きょうりょく)して行(おこな)う。

Cleaning the irrigation channels is done cooperatively by the local residents.

大雨(おおあめ)で用水路(ようすいろ)の水(みず)があふれて、道路(どうろ)が冠水(かんすい)した。

The water overflowed from the irrigation channel due to heavy rain, and the road was flooded.

A compound of 用水(ようすい) (water for use, utility water) and 路(ろ) (route, channel). In rural Japan, maintaining 用水路(ようすいろ) is traditionally a communal responsibility. During heavy rains, overflowing channels can be dangerous — every year, accidents occur when people try to check on 用水路(ようすいろ) during storms. Related terms: 水路(すいろ) (waterway, more general), 灌漑(かんがい) (irrigation), and 排水路(はいすいろ) (drainage channel).

Related Words

Compare: 側溝(そっこう) (roadside gutter)

general

Added 2026.3.24 18:40 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

19000/19104_yousuiro