水道|すいどうsuidou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Definitions
  1. nounwater supply; water service; waterworks; tap water
    昨日きのう水道すいどうを止とめられた。↗
    The water was cut off yesterday.
  2. nounchannel; strait
  3. nounwater course; waterway
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym水路すいろNeutralA passage along which water flows, as in 「用水路」, or a marked swimming lane; it does not mean tap water. Neutral in register.
  • Related運河うんがWrittenA canal dug artificially for ships to pass through, as in 「パナマ運河」; it has nothing to do with water supply. A written/formal word.

For tap water or a strait, 「水道」 is the default choice. Use 「運河」 for a man-made shipping canal and 「水路」 for a water channel or swimming lane.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 水みずを家庭かていや事業所じぎょうしょなどに供給きょうきゅうする設備せつびのこと。下水げすい道どうと区別くべつするために上水道じょうすいどうともいう。
  2. 海うみなどにおいて、両側りょうがわの陸地りくちに挟はさまれて狭せまくなっている地形ちけい。紀伊きい水道すいどうなど。
  3. 船舶せんぱくの通とおる道みち。
  4. 清浄せいじょうな水みずを配くばるための川かわなどの水路すいろ。
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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