Japanese symbol for “backwater”
背水
はいすい
Romaji: haisui
backwater
In Japanese, backwater is 背水, read はいすい (haisui).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n backwater
- n standing with one's back to water (river, lake, etc.)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “backwater”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 淀み | よどみ yodomi | stagnation; deposit; sediment |
| バックウォーター | バックウォーター bakkuwootaa | backwater |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 背景 | はいけい haikei | background; scenery; backdrop |
| 背中 | せなか senaka | back (of the body) |
| 背後 | はいご haigo | back; rear |
| 背骨 | せぼね sebone | spine; backbone; spinal column |
| 背広 | せびろ sebiro | business suit |
| 背負う | せおう seou | to carry on one's back |
| 水着 | みずぎ mizugi | bathing suit; swimsuit; swimmers |
| 水準 | すいじゅん suijun | level; standard |
See also: Chinese symbol for “backwater”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.