潜水

せんすい

diving

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"潜水" (せんすい) primarily means "diving," referring to the act of going underwater. It is often used in contexts involving recreational or professional diving activities.

Common Contexts

This word appears frequently when talking about underwater exploration, scuba diving, or scientific research beneath the water surface. It can describe both the action and the state of being underwater.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 潜水をする: to dive
  • 潜水中: while diving
  • 潜水服: diving suit
  • 深海潜水: deep-sea diving

These collocations help specify the type or context of diving.

Register and Nuance

"潜水" is a neutral term, suitable for formal and informal contexts. It is often used in technical or sports-related conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "潜水" with "水泳" (swimming). Remember, "潜水" involves going underwater and holding breath, while "水泳" is swimming on the surface.

Example Sentences

かれはきゅうじつにうみでせんすいをたのしんでいる。

He enjoys diving in the sea on his days off.

せんすいちゅうはこきゅうができないのでちゅういがひつようだ。

You need to be careful because you cannot breathe while diving.

せんすいふくをきてしんかいのちょうさにいった。

Wearing a diving suit, I went to investigate the deep sea.