海

• Reading: うみ
• Romaji: umi
• Kanji breakdown: 海 (kai/umi) — sea, ocean
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.mi/

Meaning

Sea; ocean; waters. Refers to large bodies of saltwater.

A noun referring to the sea or ocean. As an island nation, the sea holds deep cultural significance in Japan. The compound 海水浴 (kaisuiyoku) means sea bathing. 海 is also read as かい in compounds like 海外 (kaigai, overseas).

Examples

1. 夏休みに海に行きたいです。 I want to go to the beach during summer vacation.
2. 海がとてもきれいな色でした。 The sea was a very beautiful color.
3. 私の家から海が見えます。 You can see the ocean from my house.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, travel, summer

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 海 combines the water radical 氵 with 毎 (every), suggesting the vast, all-encompassing nature of the sea.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal