下水|げすいgesui[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noundrainage; ditch; gutter; sewerage
    下水げすいが完全かんぜんに詰つまっている。↗
    The drains are blocked up.
  2. nounsewage; black water
Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymどぶCasualThe same 「どぶ」: an open ditch that carries dirty water; 「どぶ川」 means a filthy stream. 「下水」 is the umbrella term for the sewage and the facilities.
  • Synonym下水道げすいどうNeutralThe entire system of pipes, channels and treatment plants that removes and treats sewage and rainwater; 「下水」 can refer to the wastewater itself.
  • Related汚水おすいNeutralThe dirty water itself; 「下水」 can also mean the drainage facilities, not just the water.
  • Related下水溝げすいこうWrittenA drainage ditch or channel; a term of written, formal prose. 「下水」 is the broader, more general word.
  • Antonym上水じょうすいNeutralAntonym: tap water supplied clean for drinking and daily use, the counterpart of 「下水」 as drainage.

Use 「下水」 for drainage facilities or household wastewater; 「下水道」 for the whole sewer system, 「汚水」 for the dirty water itself, 「どぶ」 for an open, smelly ditch, and 「上水」 for tap water.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 家庭かていや事業所じぎょうしょなどから排水はいすいされる水みずのこと。日本にっぽんの下水道げすいどう法ほうでは、「生活せいかつ若しくはもしくわ事業じぎょう(耕作こうさくの事業じぎょうを除のぞく。)に起因きいんし、若しくはもしくわ付随ふずいする廃水はいすい又または雨水あまみずをいう」と定さだめられている(同法どうほう第だい2条じょう第だい1号ごう)。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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