Translation guide
Describes water that is cloudy or opaque due to suspended dirt or sediment. In Japanese, the most common expression is 泥水 (doromizu), but other terms exist for specific contexts like turbid rivers or murky ponds.
To refer to water that has become brown or opaque because of soil, typically after rain, in puddles, or at construction sites.
The standard word for muddy water. Used for water mixed with mud, such as in puddles or after heavy rain.
雨の後、道に泥水がたまっていた。
After the rain, muddy water had collected on the road.
子供たちが泥水で遊んでいる。
The children are playing in muddy water.
Literally 'clouded water'. A descriptive phrase that can refer to any murky or turbid water, not necessarily from mud. Slightly more formal or written.
濁った水は飲まないでください。
Please don't drink the muddy water.
A literary term for muddy water or mire. Rarely used in everyday speech.
泥濘に足を取られた。
My foot got stuck in the muddy water.
To describe river water that is brown and opaque due to sediment, often after heavy rain or in certain natural conditions.
Refers specifically to a turbid, muddy stream or river current. Often used in news about floods or swollen rivers.
台風の後、川は濁流と化した。
After the typhoon, the river turned into a muddy torrent.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'water mixed with mud'. More explanatory than 泥水, but natural in conversation.
川の水が泥の混じった水になっている。
The river water has become muddy water.
To describe still water that is dark, cloudy, or full of sediment, often in ponds or swamps.
Similar to 濁った水 but as a compound noun. Often used for pond or aquarium water that has become cloudy.
池の濁り水をきれいにしたい。
I want to clean the muddy water of the pond.
Also used for stagnant muddy water, though more commonly for puddles or flowing water with mud.
Muddy water specifically contains suspended soil or sediment. For water that is simply unclean or contaminated (e.g., with garbage or chemicals), use 汚い水 (きたない みず) or 汚染水 (おせんすい).
沼の泥水は臭かった。
The muddy water of the swamp smelled bad.