航海

• Reading: こうかい
• Romaji: koukai
• Kanji breakdown: 航 (kō) — navigate, sail, voyage; 海 (kai) — sea, ocean
• Pronunciation: /koː.kai/

Meaning

Voyage; sailing; navigation. A journey by ship across the sea.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (航海する). Refers specifically to ocean travel by ship. Common compounds include 航海士 (navigator/ship officer), 航海日誌 (ship's log), and 大航海時代 (Age of Exploration). Homophone with 後悔 (regret). Used both for literal sea voyages and metaphorically for life's journey (人生の航海). More literary and specific than 旅 (travel).

Examples

1. 昔の船乗りは星を頼りに航海した。 Sailors in the old days navigated by the stars.
2. 太平洋を航海するのに二週間かかった。 It took two weeks to sail across the Pacific Ocean.
3. 大航海時代にヨーロッパの探検家が世界中を旅した。 During the Age of Exploration, European explorers traveled the world.

Usage Guide

Context: history, maritime, literature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 航 (kō, navigate/sail) and 海 (kai, sea). Literally 'navigating the sea' — a straightforward description of maritime travel.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal