The Meaning of suigen [水源] In Japanese

水源
すいげん
Romaji: suigen N4

What does 水源 mean?

Translation and Meaning

water source, source of water; headwaters, watershed

Definition

水源 means the point where water originates, such as a river or spring, and is used to describe the starting point of a water body in hydrology and geography.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Literal water source: the place where water originates for a river, lake, or spring
  • Hydrological concept: headwaters or the upstream part considered the supply source of a water body
  • Figurative usage: occasionally used to denote the origin or source of something, especially in environmental or policy contexts

Composition

  • 水 water
  • 源 origin, source
  • Together as 水源 (suigen) it means water source, the starting point of a water body

Usage

Used in formal hydrological writing, environmental planning, and geography to discuss rivers, lakes, and water management; in everyday speech it can refer to drinking water supply; it is not typically used for abstract sources of information.
💡 Tips
Visualize a spring feeding a river; the moment water begins is the water source. The kanji show water and origin combining into a single concept.

Variations

  • 水源地 (すいげんち, suigenchi) water source location
  • 源泉 (げんせん, gensen) source; often used for hot springs or in the sense of origin

Example Phrases

  • 近所の 水源を 守る ボランティア に 参加した。
    Kinjo no suigen o mamoru borantia ni sanka shita.
    I joined a local volunteer group to protect the water source.
    Lista:
    • 近所の (kinjo no) – local
    • 水源を (suigen o) – water source
    • 守る (mamoru) – to protect
    • ボランティア (borantia) – volunteer
    • に (ni) – to/at
    • 参加した (sanka shita) – participated
    Core grammar: the relative clause 「水源を守る」 precedes and modifies ボランティア; 水源 is water source, を marks the object of 守る.
水源