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.
田んぼに水を引く用水路がある。
There is an irrigation channel that supplies water to the rice paddies.
用水路の掃除は地域の住民が協力して行う。
Cleaning the irrigation channels is done cooperatively by the local residents.
大雨で用水路の水があふれて、道路が冠水した。
The water overflowed from the irrigation channel due to heavy rain, and the road was flooded.
A compound of 用水 (water for use, utility water) and 路 (route, channel). In rural Japan, maintaining 用水路 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 during storms. Related terms: 水路 (waterway, more general), 灌漑 (irrigation), and 排水路 (drainage channel).