‘治水’ literally means ‘to govern water’—combining 治 (zhì), meaning ‘to manage, regulate, or control’, and 水 (shuǐ), meaning ‘water’. Historically, it refers to large-scale efforts to prevent flooding, divert rivers, build irrigation systems, and ensure safe water supply—most famously associated with the legendary Yu the Great, who tamed China’s floods over 4,000 years ago. Today, the term is used both literally (e.g., government infrastructure projects) and figuratively (e.g., managing complex, overwhelming problems).

While it can appear in formal policy documents and news reports about river management or climate adaptation, ‘治水’ is not used for everyday household water tasks like fixing a leaky faucet—that would be ‘修水管’ or ‘处理漏水’. It implies systemic, long-term, often state-led intervention in natural water systems, especially in response to flood risk or drought.