road mirage; water mirage
Refers to the optical illusion on hot roads where distant surfaces appear wet or reflective, as if water is present. A specific type of inferior mirage.
I saw a road mirage on the asphalt in summer.
逃げ水は、遠くの路面が水たまりのように見える現象だ。
A road mirage is a phenomenon where the distant road surface looks like a puddle.
Standard kanji spelling for this phenomenon.
Variant spelling without okurigana; less common but still used.
Compound of 逃げ (nige, 'escaping') + 水 (mizu, 'water'), literally 'escaping water', because the illusory water appears to recede as one approaches.