海水

• Pinyin: hǎi shuǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = 氵(water) + 每 (every, phonetic) — the vast body of water; 水 = pictograph of flowing water

Meaning

Seawater; ocean water. The salty water found in seas and oceans.

Used literally for the water in oceans and seas. Also appears in figurative expressions and proverbs, such as 海水不可斗量 (you can't measure the sea with a bucket — don't underestimate people). In scientific contexts, refers to saltwater as opposed to freshwater (淡水).

Examples

1. 海水是咸的，不能直接喝。 Seawater is salty and cannot be drunk directly.
2. 孩子们在海水里玩得很开心。 The children had a great time playing in the seawater.
3. 这里的海水特别清澈，能看到海底。 The seawater here is especially clear; you can see the seabed.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, travel, science

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 海水的温度今天很舒服。(The seawater temperature is comfortable today.)
• 海水里含有很多盐分。(Seawater contains a lot of salt.)

Don't Say

• 我喝了一杯海水 (Don't describe drinking seawater as a normal beverage — 海水 is not drinkable, so this only works in accidental or survival contexts)

Origin & History

海 (hǎi, sea) + 水 (shuǐ, water) — a straightforward compound meaning 'sea water.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal