What's the difference between 水 and 湯


I start by saying that I'm a beginner in Japanese and maybe my question will
seem obvious to you.

I've been told by Japanese people that there's a difference between 水 and 湯. I
understand that 湯 means "hot water", but isn't it the same if I said あつい水?




Although most dictionaries or word lists translate "mizu" simply as "water",
the actual meaning of "mizu" is "cold/cool water" whereas "o-yu" is "warm/hot
water". So to a Japanese "atsui mizu" sounds like "hot cold water". They can
understand it because they know in English there is a word called "water"
including both "mizu" and "o-yu", but a Japanese person would never express it
that way.

The criterion basically is the human body temperature. Everything below it is
"mizu", above it "o-yu". It is possible to say "tsumetai mizu" however in
order to stress that the water is really very cold.




Although most dictionaries or word lists translate "mizu" simply as "water",
the actual meaning of "mizu" is "cold/cool water" whereas "o-yu" is "warm/hot
water". So to a Japanese "atsui mizu" sounds like "hot cold water". They can
understand it because they know in English there is a word called "water"
including both "mizu" and "o-yu", but a Japanese person would never express it
that way.

The criterion basically is the human body temperature. Everything below it is
"mizu", above it "o-yu". It is possible to say "tsumetai mizu" however in
order to stress that the water is really very cold.

