1.
reservoir pond; irrigation pond
A man-made pond that stores water, chiefly for irrigating rice paddies and fields during dry periods. Common in regions with little rainfall or few rivers.
溜め池の水が減る。
The water in the reservoir pond is dropping.
農家は溜め池から田に水を引く。
Farmers draw water from the reservoir pond to the paddies.
雨の少ない地方では、溜め池が昔から大切な水源だった。
In areas with little rain, reservoir ponds have long been an important water source.
A constructed pond for storing irrigation water, especially where rivers are scarce. The 溜める part means "to store" or "to accumulate."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 溜め池を造る: to build a reservoir pond
- 溜め池の水を抜く: to drain a reservoir pond
- 農業用の溜め池: agricultural reservoir pond
NOTE:
Western Japan, especially the Kagawa area, is known for its many 溜め池 built to cope with low rainfall.