Hi, it’s Junko from Japan! What does Tanjiro say when using the Water Breathing? The answer is MIZU NO KOKYU.

MIZU = water
NO = of
KOKYU = breathing
thing.
The word KOKYU consists of two Kanji symbols. The KO letter means “call” or “exhale”, and the KYU stands for “inhale.” These two symbols make the meaning of “breathing.”
As you know, the Water Breathing has 11 forms in total (though the eleventh one is only for Tomioka Giyu). Let me explain how to say each form in Japanese!
- 11 Water Breathing Forms in Japanese
- First Form: Water Surface Slash
- Second Form: Water Wheel
- Third Form: Flowing Dance
- Fourth Form: Striking Tide
- Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After The Drought
- Sixth Form: Whirlpool
- Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust
- Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin
- Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow
- Tenth Form: Constant Flux
- Eleventh Form: Dead Calm
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11 Water Breathing Forms in Japanese
First Form: Water Surface Slash
Water Surface Slash says MINAMOGIRI.

MINAMO = water surface
GIRI = slash
Second Form: Water Wheel
Water Wheel says MIZUGURUMA.

MIZU = water
GURUMA = car, vehicle
Third Form: Flowing Dance
Flowing Dance says RYURYU MAI

RYU (x2) = flow
MAI = dance
Fourth Form: Striking Tide
Striking Tide says UCHISHIO

UCHI = crash, wash the shore, strike
SHIO = tide, seawater
Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After The Drought
Blessed Rain After The Drought says KANTEN NO JIU.

KAN = dried up, drought
TEN = heaven, sky
NO = of
JI = mercy, cherish
U = rain
Sixth Form: Whirlpool
Whirlpool says NEJIRE UZU.

NEJIRE = winding, twist, distortion
UZU = swirl, vortex, whirlpool
Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust
Drop Ripple Thrust says SHIZUKU HAMON ZUKI.

SHIZUKU = water drop
HAMON = ripple, rings on the water surface
ZUKI = thrust, prick, stab
Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin

TAKI = waterfall
TSUBO = pot
These two Kanji symbols make the word TAKITSUBO means “waterfall basin.”
Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow
Splashing Water Flow says SUIRYU SHIBUKI.

SUI = water
RYU = flow
SHIBUKI = splash
RAN = disturbance, disorder
Tenth Form: Constant Flux
Constant Flux says SEISEI RUTEN.

SEI (x2) = live
RU = flow
TEN = roll, turn
The word SEISEI RUTEN comes from a Buddhism term. This phrase SEISEI represents that something is born and grows one after another. RUTEN stands for “reincarnation.” The whole phrase tells that everything in this universe keeps changing without staying.
Eleventh Form: Dead Calm
Dead Calm says NAGI.

NAGI = calm, lull
The word NAGI means “calm” in Japanese. In the English translation, “Dead” is added. I think it’s to emphasize how silent the technique is.
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