海 hǎi sea
sea; ocean; vast amount
How to remember 海: 氵 water + 每 every = sea. The boy on the beach tastes the salty water and asks if every river ends up in the sea.
Component breakdown
海 = 氵 water + 每 every
- 氵 water
- 每 every
- 𠂉 clouds
- 母 mother
The boy on the beach tastes the salty water and asks if every river ends up in the sea.
How it is used
- Means "sea/ocean," often figuratively "a vast amount." 海洋 (hǎiyáng) ocean, 海鲜 (hǎixiān) seafood, 海边 (hǎibiān) seaside.
- 海关 (hǎiguān) = customs (at the border), 海外 (hǎiwài) = overseas/abroad, 沿海 (yánhǎi) = coastal (regions).
- 海拔 (hǎibá) = elevation/altitude above sea level - a fixed term you'll meet describing places.
Words with 海
- 海洋hǎiyángoceanHSK 4
- 海关hǎiguāncustoms (i.e. border crossing inspection)HSK 5
- 海外hǎiwàioverseasHSK 5
- 海鲜hǎixiānseafoodHSK 5
- 人山人海rénshān-rénhǎimultitudeHSK 6
- 沿海yánhǎicoastalHSK 6
- 海内外hǎinèiwàidomestic and internationalHSK 6
- 海域hǎiyùsea areaHSK 6
- 海岸hǎi’àncoastalHSK 6
- 海拔hǎibáheight above sea levelHSK 6
- 海面hǎimiànthe surface of the seaHSK 6
- 海报hǎibàoposterHSK 7
- 海运hǎiyùnshipping by seaHSK 7
- 海量hǎiliànghuge volumeHSK 7
- 脑海nǎohǎithe mindHSK 7
- 航海hánghǎito sail the seasHSK 7
- 五湖四海wǔhú-sìhǎiall parts of the countryHSK 8
- 海军hǎijūnnavyHSK 9
- 海啸hǎixiàotsunamiHSK 9
- 海峡hǎixiástraitHSK 9
- 海湾hǎiwānGulfHSK 9
- 海滨hǎibīnshoreHSK 9
- 海滩hǎitānbeachHSK 9
- 海盗hǎidàopirateHSK 9
- 海绵hǎimiánsea spongeHSK 9
- 海藻hǎizǎoseaweedHSK 9
- 海豚hǎitúndolphinHSK 9
Example sentences
- 大海很蓝。 Dàhǎi hěn lán.The sea is very blue.
- 我们去海边看日出。 Wǒmen qù hǎibiān kàn rìchū.We went to the beach to see the sunrise.
- 这几年上海的变化很快。 Zhè jǐ nián Shànghǎi de biànhuà hěn kuài.Shanghai has changed rapidly the last few years.
- 海边的风景真美。 Hǎibiān de fēngjǐng zhēn měi.The scenery by the seaside is really beautiful.