Translation guide
In Japanese, 'mineral water' is commonly expressed with the loanword ミネラルウォーター, but there are also native terms like 鉱泉水 and ミネラル水. The most natural choice depends on context, with the katakana term being the default in everyday situations.
mineral water (bottled)
Refers to commercially available mineral water, typically bottled, for drinking.
The most common and natural term for mineral water in everyday Japanese. Used for bottled water in stores, restaurants, and casual conversation.
Please give me some mineral water.
This mineral water is cold.
A slightly more formal or technical term, sometimes used on labels or in written descriptions. Less common in speech than ミネラルウォーター.
Drinking mineral water is good for your health.
A formal or technical term for mineral water, often used in scientific or legal contexts. Rare in everyday conversation.
The mineral water in this region is rich in minerals.
Emphasizes water from a natural spring, often with health or purity connotations.
Literally 'natural water', this term is widely used for spring water or natural mineral water, especially in marketing and health contexts.
This natural mineral water comes from the mountains.
Refers specifically to spring water that wells up from the ground. Often implies freshness and purity, but not necessarily bottled.
ミネラルウォーター is the general term for bottled mineral water, while 天然水 emphasizes natural origin and is often used for spring water. In stores, both may appear on labels, but ミネラルウォーター is more common in speech.
I bought mineral water at the supermarket.
This natural water is spring water from Mt. Fuji.
When asking for water in a restaurant, simply say お水 (おみず) for regular water. If you specifically want mineral water, use ミネラルウォーター. Note that お水 is tap water, not mineral water.
I think natural mineral water tastes better.
山で湧き水を汲んだ。
I drew spring water in the mountains.