Translation guide
The period when the tide is going out, or the receding tide itself. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific nouns and verbs, and is often used in set phrases or literary contexts.
Referring to the ebb tide as a phenomenon or a specific time.
Describing the action of the tide receding.
The standard way to say 'the tide goes out'. '潮' means tide, '引く' means to pull back or recede.
潮が引いて、たくさんの貝が見つかった。
The tide went out and we found lots of shells.
Referring to the natural cycle of tides, or metaphorically to the rise and fall of something.
The set phrase for 'ebb and flow of the tide'. '満ち' means high tide, '干' means low tide.
人生は潮の満ち干のようなものだ。
Life is like the ebb and flow of the tide.
引き潮 (hikishio) is the general term for the receding tide or the period when the tide is going out. 干潮 (kanchō) specifically refers to the moment of lowest water level, often used in tide tables. In casual conversation, 引き潮 is more common.
引き潮の時は遠くまで歩ける。
At ebb tide you can walk far out.
干潮の時刻を確認しよう。
Let's check the time of low tide.
The most common and neutral word for ebb tide. Can be used in everyday conversation and writing.
引き潮の時に海岸を散歩するのが好きです。
I like walking on the beach at ebb tide.
Literally 'low tide', often used in technical or formal contexts, such as tide tables. Can refer to the time of lowest water level.
今日の干潮は午後3時です。
Today's low tide is at 3 PM.
A more literary or poetic term for ebb tide, emphasizing the falling of the tide.
落ち潮が岩を露わにした。
The ebb tide exposed the rocks.
Literally 'the tide falls', used similarly but slightly more literary or regional.
夕方になると潮が落ち始めた。
In the evening, the tide began to ebb.
Literally 'high tide and ebb tide', used when explicitly contrasting the two.
満ち潮と引き潮の差が大きい。
The difference between high and ebb tide is large.