<p>I would recommend the word 淡水.
Literally, <code>清</code> means “<em>clear; distinct; complete; pure</em>”. However, there is slightly difference of shade in the word "<code>清水</code>"，清 emphasizes on "<em>clean</em>",whose equivalent is "<em>clean water</em>" [Antonym:脏水dirty water] but not as same as "<em>clear water</em>" in English.
As for 淡水Freshwater，自来水[lit. SELF-COMING WATER]Tap water, Fivesheep has given a good answer above.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-10T07:32:47.340Z
2012-04-10T07:32:47.340Z
Hamster SSi
<p>清水 clear water; 淡水 fresh water (contrast to salt water); 自来水 Tap water,  30 years ago most of the chinese people had to fetch water from nearby rivers, lakes or wells by using buckets (挑水). Tap water goes through pipes to homes, people think these water go to their home automatically (without 挑水), they created the word 自来水 </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T13:07:46.823Z
What is salt water called?
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T19:53:09.183Z
盐水. you can also say 海水(seawater) is opposite to 淡水. sometimes you will see a term 生理盐水(physiological saline)
Fivesheep
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T19:55:01.787Z
Thank you :) I think it wouldn't be bad to add that to your answer (so that you're sure the information stays).
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-10T06:34:51.293Z
2012-04-10T06:34:51.293Z
Fivesheep
<p>My main aim is to try and find the best word to use when describing a freshwater lake.</p>

<p>But what if any is the difference between the following: 清水, 淡水 and 自来水</p>

<word-choice><vocabulary>
Difference between 清水, 淡水 and 自来水
# Difference between 清水, 淡水 and 自来水

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-10)

My main aim is to try and find the best word to use when describing a freshwater lake.

But what if any is the difference between the following: 清水, 淡水 and 自来水

**Tags:** word-choice, vocabulary


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-10. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

清水 clear water; 淡水 fresh water (contrast to salt water); 自来水 Tap water, 30 years ago most of the chinese people had to fetch water from nearby rivers, lakes or wells by using buckets (挑水). Tap water goes through pipes to homes, people think these water go to their home automatically (without 挑水), they created the word 自来水

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: What is salt water called?  
> **username_2**: 盐水. you can also say 海水(seawater) is opposite to 淡水. sometimes you will see a term 生理盐水(physiological saline)  
> **username_3**: Thank you :) I think it wouldn't be bad to add that to your answer (so that you're sure the information stays).  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-04-10. Score: 3

I would recommend the word 淡水.
Literally, `清` means “*clear; distinct; complete; pure*”. However, there is slightly difference of shade in the word "`清水`"，清 emphasizes on "*clean*",whose equivalent is "*clean water*" [Antonym:脏水dirty water] but not as same as "*clear water*" in English.
As for 淡水Freshwater，自来水[lit. SELF-COMING WATER]Tap water, username_2 has given a good answer above.


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