What is the Kanji for 'Sea'? | 海

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Sea', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Sea' is 海.

kanji

海

Meaning

Sea

Reading

kunyomiうみ

umi

onyomiかい

kai

Parts

氵Water (水)毎Every

Example Word

海洋: ocean. The Japanese noun '海洋 (かいよう)' refers to the 'ocean' or 'sea'. It is a formal term often used in scientific, geographical, or technical contexts to describe large bodies of saltwater. For example: the ocean is vast「海洋は広大だ」(かいようはこうだいだ). Marine life thrives in the ocean「海洋には海洋生物が生息している」(かいようにはかいようせいぶつがせいそくしている). This word is distinct from more casual terms like '海 (うみ)', which simply means 'sea' or 'beach' and is used in everyday conversation.

Radical

水

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

219

Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 海

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

radical

氵

Meaning

Water

Radical Form Of

水

kanji

毎

Meaning

Every

Words Using 海

This kanji is used in 11 words:

word

海

Meaning

Sea

word

海外

Meaning

Overseas

word

海軍

Meaning

Navy

word

海岸

Meaning

Coast

word

海洋

Meaning

Ocean

word

海流

Meaning

Current

word

海水浴

Meaning

Sea bathing

word

海上

Meaning

Sea

word

海峡

Meaning

Strait

word

航海

Meaning

Voyage

word

海水

Meaning

Seawater

Kanji Related to 海 Through the Part 氵

These 111 kanji contain the part 氵 as well.

kanji

池

Meaning

Pond

kanji

活

Meaning

Lively

kanji

汽

Meaning

Steam

kanji

酒

Meaning

Alcohol, Sake

kanji

深

Meaning

Deep

kanji

浅

Meaning

Shallow

kanji

渡

Meaning

Cross, Transit

kanji

消

Meaning

Extinguish

kanji

決

Meaning

Decide

kanji

泊

Meaning

Overnight, Stay overnight

kanji

注

Meaning

Pour

kanji

落

Meaning

Fall

kanji

泳

Meaning

Swim

kanji

流

Meaning

Flow

kanji

洗

Meaning

Wash

kanji

涼

Meaning

Cool

kanji

泣

Meaning

Weep, Cry

kanji

濯

Meaning

Wash, Rinse

kanji

漢

Meaning

China

kanji

満

Meaning

Full

kanji

法

Meaning

Law, Method

kanji

済

Meaning

Finish, Settle

kanji

減

Meaning

Decrease

kanji

準

Meaning

Follow, Semi

kanji

治

Meaning

Cure, Reign

kanji

渉

Meaning

Have relations with, Ford

kanji

湖

Meaning

Lake

kanji

油

Meaning

Oil

kanji

演

Meaning

Perform

kanji

漫

Meaning

Loose, Comic

kanji

汗

Meaning

Sweat

kanji

温

Meaning

Warm

kanji

洋

Meaning

Ocean, Western style

kanji

港

Meaning

Harbor, Port

kanji

源

Meaning

Origin, Source

kanji

混

Meaning

Mix

kanji

波

Meaning

Wave

kanji

浮

Meaning

Float

kanji

湿

Meaning

Damp, Moist

kanji

汚

Meaning

Dirty, Dishonor

kanji

測

Meaning

Measure, Conjecture

kanji

漁

Meaning

Fishing

kanji

液

Meaning

Liquid

kanji

清

Meaning

Clear, Pure

kanji

潔

Meaning

Immaculate

kanji

浜

Meaning

Beach

kanji

沖

Meaning

Open sea

kanji

湾

Meaning

Bay, Gulf

kanji

江

Meaning

Creek, Inlet

kanji

湯

Meaning

Hot water

kanji

況

Meaning

Situation, Condition

kanji

派

Meaning

Sect, Faction

kanji

沈

Meaning

Sink

kanji

没

Meaning

Sink, Drown

kanji

河

Meaning

River

kanji

添

Meaning

Add to, Annexed

kanji

漠

Meaning

Vague, Desert

kanji

涙

Meaning

Tear, Teardrop

kanji

激

Meaning

Violent, Fierce

kanji

浴

Meaning

Bathe

kanji

沿

Meaning

Along

kanji

洪

Meaning

Flood, Vast

kanji

渋

Meaning

Astringent, Not going smoothly

kanji

滞

Meaning

Stagnate

kanji

溶

Meaning

Melt, Dissolve

kanji

滑

Meaning

Slide, Smooth

kanji

滅

Meaning

Ruin, Destroy

kanji

沢

Meaning

Marsh, Swamp

kanji

潜

Meaning

Lurk, Submerge

kanji

淡

Meaning

Thin, Light

kanji

津

Meaning

Harbor, Haven

kanji

漂

Meaning

Drift

kanji

泥

Meaning

Mud, Adhere to

kanji

濁

Meaning

Voiced, Turbid

kanji

澄

Meaning

Limpid, Lucidity

kanji

渦

Meaning

Whirlpool, Eddy

kanji

沸

Meaning

Boil

kanji

浄

Meaning

Clean

kanji

浸

Meaning

Soak, Immersed

kanji

漏

Meaning

Leak

kanji

溝

Meaning

Gutter, Channel

kanji

潮

Meaning

Tide

kanji

汁

Meaning

Juice, Soup

kanji

潤

Meaning

Moisten, Watered

kanji

浪

Meaning

Wander, Billow

kanji

渇

Meaning

Thirst, Parched

kanji

涯

Meaning

Edge, Horizon

kanji

漬

Meaning

Soak, Pickle

kanji

泌

Meaning

Secrete

kanji

濫

Meaning

Overflow, Excessive

kanji

漆

Meaning

Lacquer, Varnish

kanji

漸

Meaning

Gradually, Steadily

kanji

沼

Meaning

Marsh, Muddy pond

kanji

滝

Meaning

Waterfall

kanji

瀬

Meaning

Shallows, Rapids

kanji

泡

Meaning

Bubbles

kanji

淑

Meaning

Graceful

kanji

潟

Meaning

Lagoon

kanji

渓

Meaning

Valley, Ravine

kanji

洞

Meaning

Cave, Penetrate

kanji

浦

Meaning

Bay, Seaside

kanji

滋

Meaning

Nourishing

kanji

汎

Meaning

Pan

kanji

氾

Meaning

Wide, Spread out

kanji

溺

Meaning

Drown, Indulge

kanji

沃

Meaning

Fertility

kanji

潰

Meaning

Defile

kanji

汰

Meaning

Select

kanji

湧

Meaning

Well, Boil

kanji

沙

Meaning

Sand

kanji

淫

Meaning

Lewdness, Licentiousness

Kanji Related to 海 Through the Part 毎

These 4 kanji contain the part 毎 as well.

kanji

悔

Meaning

Repent, Regret

kanji

梅

Meaning

Apricot, Plum

kanji

敏

Meaning

Agile, Alert

kanji

侮

Meaning

Despise

Learn the Kanji 海

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 海 mean?

海 means 'Sea'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N4 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.