海

• Pinyin: hǎi
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = 氵(water radical) + 每 (měi, every — phonetic component)

Meaning

Sea; ocean. A large body of salt water.

A fundamental nature word that appears in many compounds: 海边 (seaside), 海鲜 (seafood), 上海 (Shanghai), 海外 (overseas). Also used figuratively to mean a vast quantity (人山人海 = a sea of people).

Examples

1. 我从来没有见过海。 I have never seen the sea.
2. 海水是蓝色的。 The sea water is blue.
3. 夏天我们去海边玩吧。 Let's go to the seaside in summer.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, geography, travel

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我想去看海。(I want to go see the sea.)
• 海很大，很美。(The sea is vast and beautiful.)

Don't Say

• 不要把海和湖混淆 — 海 is a sea or ocean (salt water, connected to the open ocean), while 湖 is a lake (usually freshwater, inland).

Origin & History

Ancient Chinese character. Composed of 氵(water) and 每 (měi, phonetic), meaning 'the great water.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal