湧く To Well Up

Meaning

Primary

To Well Up

Alternatives

To Gush Out, To Arise

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

The kanji itself means well up, and this is also to well up or to gush out.

Remember us talking about courage welling up in the kanji mnemonic? This word can also be used for that kind of figurative welling up, like of emotions, which is where the meaning to arise comes from.

Reading

わく

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You're fishing in a hole in the ice when suddenly the water starts to well up and to gush out of it. A huge walrus (わ) splashes out and jumps on you. No wonder there weren't any fish! This is a walrus hole.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜が湧く

  興味が湧く

  one’s interest springs up

  イメージが湧く

  to get an idea (of something)

  疑問が湧く

  questions arise

  実感が湧く

  to get a real sense for something

  水が湧く

  water wells up

• 〜に湧く

  自然に湧く

  to well up naturally

  無限に湧く

  to spring up infinitely

  急に湧く

  to suddenly well up

Context Sentences

悔し涙が湧きました。

Bitter tears welled up.

Kanji Composition

1. 湧

   ゆう Well Up