Meaning
The kanji 泉 means spring or fountain — a natural source of water welling up from the ground. Pure water rises to the surface, forming the headwaters of streams and rivers. Springs hold sacred significance in Japanese culture, appearing in place names, hot spring resorts, and poetry across the country.
泉 is a pictograph. The upper portion 白 depicted the round opening where water breaks through the earth's surface, while 水 below shows the flow spilling outward. The structure mirrors the phenomenon: hole above, rushing water below.
Nine strokes, Grade 6 (小学校6年生). Despite appearing late in the primary school curriculum, you encounter this kanji constantly — 温泉 (onsen) is part of everyday speech and appears on road signs throughout Japan. At N2, you should handle its major compounds with confidence.
泉 also works metaphorically. A person with boundless knowledge might be called a 知識の泉 — a fountain of knowledge. The kanji carries a sense of something flowing freely from an inexhaustible, hidden source.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
セン (sen) is the on'yomi, drawn from classical Chinese. It appears in written compounds (熟語, jukugo) and is the reading you'll see most in formal and literary contexts.
- 温泉 (onsen) — hot spring; geothermal bath resort, central to Japanese leisure and tourism
- 源泉 (gensen) — fountainhead, primary source; also appears in finance as 源泉徴収 (withholding tax)
- 黄泉 (kōsen) — the underworld, realm of the dead (literary/classical); also read 黄泉 in mythological contexts
- 清泉 (seisen) — clear, pure spring water
- 冷泉 (reisen) — cold mineral spring
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
いずみ (izumi) is the native Japanese reading — a standalone noun meaning simply "a spring." It is widely used as both a given name and family name, and turns up often in place names across Japan.
- 泉 (izumi) — a spring; used alone in poetry and geographic names
- 湧き水 (wakimizu) — naturally welling groundwater, water gushing from a spring
Common Words & Compounds
泉 appears across a wide range of vocabulary. Here are the most useful groups.
Hot Springs & Natural Water
- 温泉 (onsen) — hot spring; geothermal bath resort, a cornerstone of Japanese leisure
- 冷泉 (reisen) — cold mineral spring
- 泉質 (senshitsu) — type or quality of spring water (e.g., sulfuric, alkaline)
- 泉脈 (senmyaku) — underground water vein, subterranean spring channel
Source & Origin
- 源泉 (gensen) — primary source, fountainhead
- 源泉徴収 (gensen chōshū) — income tax withheld at source (payroll withholding)
Literary & Poetic
- 黄泉 (yomi) — the underworld, land of the dead (Japanese mythology)
- 清泉 (seisen) — crystal-clear spring; evokes purity in poetry
Place Names & Proper Nouns
- 泉州 (Senshū) — historical region in southern Osaka Prefecture
- 泉佐野 (Izumisano) — city in Osaka Prefecture, home to Kansai International Airport
- 泉岳寺 (Sengakuji) — temple in Tokyo associated with the 47 Rōnin
Other Common Uses
- 泉水 (sensui) — garden pond, ornamental water feature fed by a spring
- 甘泉 (kansen) — sweet spring water; poetic term for pure, refreshing water
Example Sentences
この山には美しい泉があります。
Kono yama ni wa utsukushii izumi ga arimasu.
There is a beautiful spring on this mountain.
温泉に入って、疲れが取れました。
Onsen ni haitte, tsukare ga toremashita.
After soaking in the hot spring, my fatigue melted away.
泉の水はとても冷たくて澄んでいた。
Izumi no mizu wa totemo tsumetakute sunde ita.
The water from the spring was ice-cold and perfectly clear.
源泉かけ流しの温泉は人気があります。
Gensen kake-nagashi no onsen wa ninki ga arimasu.
Hot springs that flow fresh from the source — without recycling the water — draw a loyal crowd.
彼は知識の泉のような人だ。
Kare wa chishiki no izumi no you na hito da.
He's the kind of person you'd call a fountain of knowledge.
この会社では源泉徴収で税金が引かれます。
Kono kaisha de wa gensen chōshū de zeikin ga hikaremasu.
At this company, taxes are withheld directly from your paycheck.
日本には至るところに温泉地があります。
Nihon ni wa itaru tokoro ni onsenchi ga arimasu.
Hot spring towns are scattered all across Japan.
古代の神話では、黄泉は死者の国とされていた。
Kodai no shinwa de wa, Yomi wa shisha no kuni to sarete ita.
In ancient mythology, Yomi was the land of the dead.
泉のほとりで休みながら、弁当を食べた。
Izumi no hotori de yasuminagara, bentō wo tabeta.
We sat by the spring, resting and eating our packed lunches.
この泉質は肌に良いと言われています。
Kono senshitsu wa hada ni yoi to iwarete imasu.
This type of spring water is said to be good for your skin.
Memory Tip
Picture a round white opening in the earth (白, the top half of the kanji) with water (水) bursting out from below. You're hiking in the mountains. You spot a white stone with a hole in it — and suddenly, sparkling water gushes out, pooling into a crystal-clear spring. That's exactly the shape: a circular mouth on top, flowing water strokes underneath. Anchor it to onsen (温泉) — Japan's famous hot spring baths. You already know 温 means warm. With 泉 meaning spring, the full word clicks into place.