運河
unga[ɯ̟̃ŋɡa̠]
The English word 'canal' can be translated into Japanese as 運河 (unga) or 水路.
Meaning: artificial waterway (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 運河 | unga | [ɯ̟̃ŋɡa̠] (narrow) |
| 水路 | suiro | [sɨiɾo̞] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to water features, but they are used in different contexts depending on the scale and purpose of the waterway.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 運河 is composed of the kanji 運 (to transport or carry) and 河 (river). The word 水路 is composed of the kanji 水 (water) and 路 (path or route).
Which one should you use?
運河 is used specifically for large-scale, man-made maritime canals designed for shipping, such as the Panama Canal. In contrast, 水路 refers more generally to a waterway, which can include smaller irrigation channels, canals or even natural water routes.
How do you pronounce it?
unga
Did you know?
- The character 運 in 運河 is the same character used in 運勢 for 'luck' or 'fate', as both derive from the idea of 'moving' or 'carrying' something from one place to another.
- While 運河 describes a shipping canal, the term 水路 is also used as a technical term for the 'waterway' or 'channel' in a biological sense, such as the tear ducts in the human eye.
- While 運河 refers to large maritime canals, the word 水路 is often used metaphorically in Japanese to describe a 'path' or 'channel' for information or money to flow through.
Examples in context
- パナマ運河は大西洋と太平洋をつないでいる。The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic with the Pacific.This sentence is useful for showing how the Panama Canal connects two oceans using 運河.Tatoeba #197933 by bunbuku, translation #35122 by CK
- 船はパナマ運河を通り抜けた。The ship went through the Panama Canal.This sentence is useful for describing a ship passing through the Panama Canal using 運河.Tatoeba #141146 by mookeee, translation #273426 by CK
- パナマ運河Panama CanalThis sentence is a simple phrase for the Panama Canal using 運河.
- 長い運河を見たことありますか？Have you ever seen a long canal?
- 近くにいい水路があるか知っていますか？Do you know of any good canals nearby?
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a map of a new city development.
- 美咲 Misakiこの街には新しい運河があるんですか？Kono machi ni wa atarashii unga ga aru n desu ka?Is there a new canal in this city?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、大きな運河が街を流れていますよ。Hai, ookina unga ga machi o nagarete imasu yo.Yes, a large canal flows through the city.
- 美咲 Misaki景色がとても綺麗そうですね。Keshiki ga totemo kirei sou desu ne.The scenery looks very beautiful.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、今度一緒に行きましょう。Misaki-san, kondo issho ni ikimashou.Misaki, let's go there together sometime.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “canal” translations and entries 運河, 水路, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
