海边

• Pinyin: hǎi biān
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = 氵(water) + 每 (every, phonetic); 边 = simplified from 邊, meaning side or edge

Meaning

Seaside; seashore; by the sea. The area along the edge of the ocean.

A common destination word for holidays and leisure. Used both literally (the physical coastline) and as a general concept of coastal areas.

Examples

1. 我们去海边散步吧。 Let's go for a walk by the sea.
2. 海边的风很大。 The wind is very strong at the seaside.
3. 她住在海边的一个小城市。 She lives in a small city by the sea.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, leisure, geography

Tone: relaxed, pleasant

Do Say

• 周末去海边玩吧。(Let's go to the seaside on the weekend.)
• 海边的空气很好。(The air at the seaside is very fresh.)

Don't Say

• 不要把海边和海上混淆 — 海边 means the shore or coastline; 海上 means on the sea or at sea (out on the water).

Origin & History

Compound of 海 (sea) and 边 (side, edge), meaning 'the side of the sea' — the seashore.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal