海浪

• Pinyin: hǎi làng
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = 氵 (water) + 每 (every), meaning sea; 浪 = 氵 (water) + 良 (good, phonetic), meaning wave

Meaning

Ocean waves; sea waves. The waves on the surface of the sea.

Used literally for ocean waves and poetically for turbulent situations. Common collocations: 海浪声 (sound of waves), 汹涌的海浪 (surging waves), 乘风破浪 (ride the wind and break the waves, meaning to forge ahead). Often used in poetry and songs.

Examples

1. 站在海边，听着海浪拍打礁石的声音，心里特别平静。 Standing by the sea, listening to the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, I feel especially calm inside.
2. 台风来临前，海浪变得异常汹涌，渔船都提前回港避风了。 Before the typhoon arrived, the waves became unusually turbulent, and all the fishing boats returned to harbor early to take shelter.
3. 冲浪者在巨大的海浪中穿行，那个场面太刺激了。 The surfers weaving through the huge waves — that scene was so thrilling.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, literature, weather

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 海浪真大啊！(The waves are so big!)
• 我喜欢听海浪的声音。(I like listening to the sound of the waves.)

Don't Say

• 把河里的水流叫海浪 (Don't call river currents 海浪 — it specifically refers to ocean waves)

Origin & History

Compound of 海 (sea, ocean) + 浪 (wave). A direct descriptive term for waves in the sea.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal