• 川かわ — river
• 小川おがわ — brook / stream
• 川辺かわべ — riverside
• 河川かせん — rivers; river system
• 天あまの川がわ — Milky Way
• 川原かわら — riverbank; dry riverbed
• 川面かわも — river surface
• 川柳せんりゅう — senryu poem

The kanji “川” is a pictograph showing water flowing between two riverbanks. In Japan, rivers are a familiar part of everyday scenery — with paths, bridges, and parks often built along them — and many place names include “〜川,” reflecting how closely rivers are tied to daily life and geography.