garden stream; narrow stream in a traditional Japanese garden
Refers to a small, often artificial stream in a Japanese garden, especially associated with Heian-period shinden-zukuri architecture.
See also: 寝殿造り
watering plants; watering potted plants or bonsai
Used for the act of watering plants, especially potted plants or bonsai. Less common than 水やり in everyday speech.
It's best to water bonsai early in the morning.
A garden stream flowed through the shinden-zukuri style garden.
Standard kanji spelling for the garden stream sense.
Irregular okurigana usage; less common but still seen.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; practical for learners.
Compound of 遣り (yari, continuative form of 遣る 'to do, send') + 水 (mizu 'water'). The garden stream sense is old, dating back to Heian-period garden design.