井
い
Meanings
1
A water well, often a traditional structure. Can also appear in compound words.
Draw water from the village well.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に井を掘るto dig a well at a place
The villagers dug a well in the village.
- 井から水を汲むto draw water from a well
She drew water from the well and carried it to the kitchen.
Expressions· 9
- 山の井mountain well
- 相碁井目in any game, skill differences can be large
- 井の中の蛙person ignorant of the wider world; frog in a well
- 甘井先ず竭くthe flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long; the well with sweet water will be the first to run dry
- 渇に臨みて井を掘るfail to prepare in time; not dig a well until one is thirsty
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- 渇に臨みて井を穿つto fail to make timely preparations; to not dig a well until one is thirsty
- 葦の髄から天井のぞくhave a narrow view of things; look at the ceiling through a reed (lit.)
- 葦の髄から天井を覗くhave a narrow view of things; peek at the ceiling through the pith of a reed