手水

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
手	水
て Grade: 1	みず Grade: 1
kun’yomi

By surface analysis, 手 (te, “hand”) +‎ 水 (mizu, “water”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) て​みず [téꜜmìzù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [te̞mʲizɨᵝ]

Noun

手(て)水(みず) • (temizu) 

1. Washwater, water used for washing one's hands.
2. The use of water to moisten mochi when kneading it.
3. The water used for doing so.

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
手	水
Grade: 1	Grade: 1
irregular

Shift from 手(て)水(みず) (temizu) above.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ちょ​ーず [chóꜜòzù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕo̞ːzɨᵝ]

Noun

手水(ちょうず) • (chōzu) 

1. Washwater, water used for washing one's hands.
2. (euphemistic) The act of excretion or going to the washroom.
   1. feces or urine

      Synonym: 大小便 (daishōben)

3. A lavatory. (toilet, bathroom, etc.)

   手(ちょう)水(ず)を使(つか)う

   chōzu o tsukau

   to use the lavatory

   Synonym: 厠 (kawaya)