How to say "drain" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 流すながすgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb sense of 'drain': making liquid flow away or out, as when emptying a sink or bath. Its broader meaning 'to pour, run, or let flow' means context decides exactly what is being drained.
- 溝みぞnounA ditch, gutter, or open channel that carries water away, such as the shallow drain running along a roadside. Use this noun for the waterway itself, not for the act of draining.
- nounCovers the same ground as 溝 — a ditch, gutter, or drain channel — and is usually written in kana alone rather than with kanji.
- 飲み干すのみほすgodan verb, transitive verbThe 'drain' of drinking: to drink a glass dry, finishing every last drop. It applies to drinks only, never to water channels or plumbing.
- 下水道げすいどうnounThe sewer system: the network of pipes that carries away waste water from homes and streets. Choose this for 'drain' in the infrastructure sense, not for a small roadside ditch or gutter.
For the verb 'to drain' use 「流す」; for a ditch or gutter choose 溝 or 「どぶ」; 下水道 is the sewer system; and 「飲み干す」 means to drain a glass by drinking it.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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