Onyomi: カイ · Kunyomi: うみ · Meanings: ocean, sea
Kanji for ocean, sea
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Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 海.
The kanji 海 combines the “water” radical (氵) with the character for “every” or “all” (毎), symbolizing the vast expanse of water. In ancient times, it represented the sea or large bodies of water. 海 came to mean sea, ocean, or maritime, capturing vastness, fluidity, and travel over water.
Water spreading widely — 海 means sea, ocean, or large body of water.
Imagine looking out at the vast ocean stretching endlessly — that’s 海, the kanji for sea and ocean.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海 | うみ | sea, ocean, waters | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 海岸 | かいがん | coast, beach | common JLPT-N4 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 海外 | かいがい | foreign, abroad, overseas | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 津波 | つなみ | tsunami, tidal wave | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 海運 | かいうん | maritime transport, shipping | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 海水浴 | かいすいよく | swimming in the ocean, sea bathing, seawater bath, going for a dip in the ocean | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 海峡 | かいきょう | channel (e.g. between two land masses), strait | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 海流 | かいりゅう | ocean current | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 海洋 | かいよう | ocean, sea | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 海抜 | かいばつ | height above sea level | common JLPT-N1 Noun |