This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

水清ければ魚住まず。

Sentence Analyzer

清ければ 魚住 まず

English Translation

Clear water breeds no fish.

Furigana

(みず)(きよ)ければ魚住(うおずみ)まず。

Romanji

Mizu kiyokereba Uozumi mazu.

Words

(みず、み)
water (esp. cool, fresh water, e.g. drinking water); fluid (esp. in an animal tissue); liquid; flood; floodwaters; water offered to wrestlers just prior to a bout; break granted to wrestlers engaged in a prolonged bout
清い (きよい)
clear; pure; noble
先ず (まず)
first (of all); to start with; about; almost; anyway; well; now; hardly (with neg. verb)

Kanji

Readings: スイ、 みず、 みず-
Meaning: water
Readings: セイ、 ショウ、 シン、 きよ.い、 きよ.まる、 きよ.める
Meanings: pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise, Manchu dynasty
Readings: ギョ、 うお、 さかな、 -ざかな
Meaning: fish
Readings: ジュウ、 ヂュウ、 チュウ、 す.む、 す.まう、 -ず.まい
Meanings: dwell, reside, live, inhabit