How to say "river" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 川かわnounThe everyday word for a river or a stream, and the default choice in almost any context, from the river near your home to rivers in general.
- nounThe katakana loanword from English. Less common than 川 and seldom the word you want for an actual river; in everyday talk about rivers, 川 is the natural choice.
- 河渠かきょnounReally a word for waterways and canals; its 'river' sense is a technical one, and it is not how you would refer to an ordinary river — that is 川.
Use 川 for rivers and streams in ordinary contexts; 「リバー」 is a less common loanword seldom used for actual rivers; 河渠 is a technical word for waterways and canals rather than the everyday 'river'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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