背はい水すい

noun

backwater

Modern loanword from English 'backwater', used in contexts such as rowing, hydrology, or metaphorically for a stagnant situation. The cross-reference to バックウォーター suggests this is the primary modern usage.

See also: バックウォーター

• この川かわの背はい水すいは、上じょう流りゅうのダムの影えい響きょうで水すい位いが上あがっている。

  The backwater of this river has risen due to the upstream dam.

noun

standing with one's back to water

Archaic literal sense: a tactical position with water behind, leaving no retreat. Now mostly encountered in the set phrase 背水の陣 (はいすいのじん, 'burning one's boats; last stand').

• 「背はい水すいの陣じん」という言こと葉ばは、この背はい水すいの状じょう況きょうに由ゆ来らいする。

  The phrase 背水の陣 derives from this situation of having one's back to the water.