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呼び水 (よびみず) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
pump-priming ; stimulus ; trigger
Literally, water poured into a pump to start the flow; figuratively, an initial action or small investment that triggers a larger effect or activity. Often used in economic, social, or conversational contexts.
彼かれ の 冗じょう 談だん が 会かい 話わ の 呼よ び 水みず に なっ た 。
His joke became a trigger for conversation.
Written forms 呼よ び 水みず Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
呼よび 水みず
Less common variant without okurigana; learners may encounter it but should prefer 呼び水.
Kanji 呼 call, call out to, invite Similar words きっかけ きっかけ is a general term for a trigger or opportunity that starts something, while 呼び水 emphasizes the initial input that draws out a larger response, often with a nuance of priming a pump.
刺し 激げき 刺激 means stimulation or stimulus in a broad sense (physical, mental, economic), whereas 呼び水 specifically refers to an initial action that sets off a chain reaction.
Etymology Compound of 呼び (yobi, 'calling') + 水 (mizu, 'water'), literally 'calling water'. Originally referred to water poured into a pump to create suction and draw up more water; the figurative sense developed from this priming action.
