also: せいすい · きよみず
noun
Water that naturally wells up from the ground, often associated with purity and freshness.
山で汲んだ清水はとても冷たくて美味しい。
The spring water drawn from the mountain is very cold and delicious.
noun
clear water; pure water
Emphasizes the clarity or purity of the water, not necessarily from a spring. Often used in poetic or descriptive contexts.
清水のような心でいたい。
I want to have a heart as clear as pure water.
Alternate kun-reading; mainly used in place names (e.g., 清水寺).
Compound of 清 (pure, clear) and 水 (water). The reading しみず is a kun'yomi compound, while せいすい is the on'yomi reading. The alternate reading きよみず is also kun'yomi but less common in general vocabulary.