浅瀬
Meanings
1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
shoal; shallows; sand bar; ford
Refers to a shallow area in a body of water, such as a river, lake, or sea. Can be used as a noun or with の to modify another noun.
I crossed the river at the shallows on foot.
There are many small fish in the shallows.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に浅瀬があるthere is a shoal/shallow spot in a place
There is a shallow spot downstream on this river.
- 浅瀬に乗り上げるfor a boat to run aground on a shoal
The boat ran aground on a shoal and couldn't move.
- 浅瀬を渡るto cross a shallow ford
The children crossed the ford to reach the other bank.
- 浅瀬で泳ぐto swim in the shallows
The little child decided to swim in the shallows.
Expressions
- 浅瀬に仇波shallow streams are noisy; deep rivers flow silently; empty vessels make the most sound
- 負うた子に教えられて浅瀬を渡るeven the young can teach us; a child may lead a wise man