How to Say ‘The water runs.’ in Japanese
水は出ます。
mizu wa de masu
[mee-zoo wah deh mah-soo]
💬 Usage Tip: Topic [水は] + verb [出ます]. This often implies “but something else (like hot water) doesn’t.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: This distinction can indicate the building supply is fine and the problem is likely the water heater.
Phrase Breakdown
水
mizu
[mee-zoo]
water
Noun. Refers to (cold) water as opposed to お湯 (hot water). In plumbing issues, 水は出ます means water comes out of the tap.
お湯は出ませんが、水は出ます。
Hot water doesn’t come out, but water does come out.
は
wa
[wah]
(topic marker)
Particle. Marks the topic of the sentence. 水は… = “As for water, …”. Often contrasts with something else (e.g., お湯は…).
水は出ますが、お湯は出ません。
Water comes out, but hot water doesn’t.
出ます
de masu
comes out / runs (polite)
Polite form of 出る. Used for water, gas, voice, etc. Here: “Water comes out (works).”
ガスが出ます。
The gas is coming out / the gas works.
Words in this phrase
出
de
[deh]
come out; be produced (stem: 出)
Kanji root meaning “to come out / to appear.” In 出ます (でます), it describes water/hot water coming out of a tap or shower.
蛇口からお湯が出ません。
Hot water doesn’t come out of the faucet.
ます
masu
[mah-soo]
polite verb ending (masu-form)
Makes the verb polite. 出ます = polite “comes out.” Useful when speaking to a landlord/management company.
水は出ます。
Water comes out.
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