The water radical 氵: a clue, not a complete definition
氵 is the left-side form of the water radical; use it as a classification and meaning clue, then verify the complete kanji and reading.
The left-side radical 氵 is called さんずい and is classified under 水. It can help you notice a water-related meaning component, but it does not supply the complete word or reading.
Recognize the shape
水 is the standalone kanji. On the left side of many kanji, the radical appears as 氵.
水を飲みます。Use the radical as a clue
In many kanji built with 氵, さんずい contributes the meaning side (something to do with water) while another component often hints at the sound. That is the useful distinction: a meaning clue is not a pronunciation rule.
| Kanji | Common word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海 | 海 | うみ | sea |
| 池 | 池 | いけ | pond |
| 湖 | 湖 | みずうみ | lake |
| 泳 | 泳ぐ | およぐ | to swim |
| 洗 | 洗う | あらう | to wash |
海で泳ぎます。手を洗ってください。Read the whole word
The radical index groups these kanji together, but their readings differ. Learn 海 as うみ, 池 as いけ, and 洗う as あらう in actual words.
- First
- 氵
- Second
- 洗う
The first is a radical classification; the second is a complete word with its own reading.
Language reference
Vocabulary
- さんずい
- the left-side water radical 氵noun
- 洗う
- to washgodan verb
Pop quiz
Question 1: You see an unfamiliar kanji with 氵 on the left. What can you reasonably conclude before checking a dictionary?
- A. It definitely means water and is read みず.
- B. 氵 may be a water-related meaning clue.
Show answer
B氵 may be a water-related meaning clue.
氵 is the water radical, so it may signal a water-related meaning component. It is only a clue: it does not give you the kanji's complete meaning, and it never supplies the reading. Treating every 氵 kanji as meaning water and read みず fails on words like 泳ぐ (およぐ) and 洗う (あらう).