海
海·sea
- On-yomi
- カイ
- Kun-yomi
- うみ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 海 | うみ | sea |
| 海外 | かいがい | overseas |
| 海岸 | かいがん | coast, shore |
| 日本海 | にほんかい | the Sea of Japan |
Example sentences
夏に海へ泳ぎに行きます。
なつにうみへおよぎにいきます。
I go swimming at the sea in summer.
来年海外で働きたいです。
らいねんかいがいではたらきたいです。
I want to work abroad next year.
朝早く海岸を散歩するのが好きです。
あさはやくかいがんをさんぽするのがすきです。
I like taking early morning walks along the shore.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 海外 as *うみがい — it is かいがい.
- Using 海 for the beach — the sand itself is 海岸 or ビーチ.
Memory aid
Picture it
Water (氵) beside 毎 (every) — water as far as you look in every direction: the sea.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 海岸かいがんcoast, beach
- 海うみsea
- 海外かいがいoverseas
- 海苔のりnori, dried seaweed
- 海洋かいようthe ocean, marine (waters)
- 海水浴かいすいよくsea bathing, swimming in the sea
- 海抜かいばつabove sea level
- 海路かいろsea route; sea lane; by sea
- 航海こうかいvoyage; sea crossing; navigation
- 海運かいうんmarine transportation; shipping
- 海峡かいきょうstrait; channel; sound
- 海流かいりゅうocean current
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 海 mean?