swift current; rapids
Refers to a fast-flowing, often turbulent part of a river. Common in geographical names and descriptive writing.
The rapids in this river are dangerous for canoes.
Going down the swift current is thrilling.
Going down the rapids by canoe is very exciting.
He was swept away by the rapids and nearly drowned.
At night, you can clearly hear the sound of the rapids.
早瀬 specifically describes a shallow, swift-running stretch of a river and is more commonly used than the literary 滝川.
早瀬 refers to shallow, fast-flowing water (rapids), another modern equivalent for the archaic 'rapids' meaning of 滝.
早瀬 is a fast, shallow, turbulent stretch of a river, while 淵 is a deep, still pool where the water barely moves.
A native compound of 早 “swift” and 瀬 “current or rapids.” The reading preserves unvoiced せ.