• 湖みずうみ — lake
• 湖水こすい — lake water
• 湖畔こはん — lakeside
• 塩湖えんこ — salt lake
• 湖沼こしょう — lakes and marshes

The character 湖 uses the water radical 氵on the left, indicating a connection to water. The right side includes 胡, which contributes the sound "こ" and historically relates to "foreign" or "beyond the norm"—perhaps hinting at a large and mysterious body of water. Together, they form the concept of a lake: an inland body of still water.

湖みずうみの 近ちかくに 別荘べっそうがあります。
There is a vacation house near the lake.

湖水こすいは 静しずかで 美うつくしいです。
The lake water is calm and beautiful.

🎧 Listen to コ