Translation and Meaning of: 海 - umi

If you are studying Japanese, you have certainly come across the kanji 海 (うみ - umi), which means "sea" or "beach". This word is essential in Japanese vocabulary, appearing in everyday expressions, place names, and even in popular songs. But do you know the origin of this ideogram? Or how it is used in different contexts? In this article, we will explore the etymology, practical usage, and even tips for memorizing this kanji efficiently. Additionally, you will discover how Suki Nihongo, the largest online Japanese dictionary, can help you learn ready-made phrases to include in Anki or another spaced repetition system.

The sea has a deep meaning in Japanese culture, and the word 海 carries this significance. Whether in poetry, everyday conversations, or even puns, this term appears frequently. But has it always had the same meaning? And why do some people confuse its use with other similar kanjis? Let’s unravel all of this below.

Origin and etymology of the kanji 海

The ideogram 海 is composed of two radicals: the water radical (氵) and the character 毎, which originally represented "all" or "each". Together, they form the idea of a "place where all the water gathers", that is, the sea. This construction reflects the ancient perspective of the Chinese, who created the kanji, about the oceans as a great reservoir of water.

Interestingly, in ancient writing, the character was even more pictographic, showing waves and a kind of "opening" that symbolized vastness. Over time, the shape was simplified, but it still maintains that visual essence. Can you imagine the waves when looking at the modern kanji? This association can be a great tip for memorization!

Everyday use and expressions with 海

In everyday Japanese, 海 appears in various situations. From simple conversations like "Shall we go to the beach?" (海に行きましょうか？ - umi ni ikimashou ka?) to more specific terms like 海の幸 (umi no sachi - "gifts of the sea," referring to seafood). A beautiful expression worth learning is 海原 (unabara), which means "the vast sea" and often appears in poetry.

Did you know that many place names in Japan use this kanji? Coastal cities like 横浜 (Yokohama) and 神戸 (Kobe) often have their history linked to the sea. And we can't forget the famous 海老 (ebi - shrimp), which literally means "old man of the sea" due to its curved appearance, resembling an elder. These small details show how marine culture is deeply rooted in the language.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An infallible technique to remember the kanji 海 is to associate it with the water radical (氵) plus the idea of "mother" (母 - haha). Although it is not the correct etymology, creating this mental image of "mother water" can help with memorization. Another method is to think of the three drops of the radical as waves and the rest as the horizon of the sea. Which of these images works better for you?

In pop culture, this kanji appears in various mangas and animes with maritime themes, such as "One Piece." And here's a curiosity: in the Okinawan dialect, the word for sea is "umi" (like in standard Japanese), but the pronunciation can vary in other regions. This shows how even a seemingly universal concept like the sea can have different nuances depending on where you are in Japan.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 海洋 (Kaiyō) - Ocean, large body of saltwater
• 海域 (Kaiiki) - Maritime area, sea region
• 沖 (Oki) - Open sea, area far from the coast
• 海面 (Kaimen) - Sea surface
• 海水 (Kaisui) - Sea water
• 海岸 (Kaigan) - Coast, shoreline
• 海流 (Kairyū) - Ocean current, movement of sea water
• 海底 (Kaitei) - Deep sea
• 海洋性 (Kaiyōsei) - Oceanic characteristics, related to the ocean
• 海洋生物 (Kaiyō seibutsu) - Marine organisms, life in the ocean

海

Romaji: umi
Kana: うみ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: sea; beach

Meaning in English: sea;beach

Definition: A large body of water far from land.

Example Sentences - (海) umi

See below some example sentences:

漁船は海で魚を捕る船です。

Gyosen wa umi de sakana o toru fune desu

A fishing boat is a boat that captures fish at sea.

A fishing boat is a ship that catches fish at sea.

• 漁船 - Fishing boat
• は - Topic particle
• 海 - sea
• で - Location particle
• 魚 - fish
• を - direct object particle
• 捕る - capture
• 船 - boat
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

漁師は海で魚を捕まえる。

Gyōshi wa umi de sakana o tsukamaeru

Fishermen capture fish at sea.

The fishermen take fish in the sea.

• 漁師 - fisherman
• は - Topic particle
• 海 - sea
• で - place particle
• 魚 - fish
• を - direct object particle
• 捕まえる - capture

特派員は海外からの報告をする。

Tokuhain wa kaigai kara no hōkoku o suru

Report from foreign correspondents.

• 特派員 - special correspondent
• は - Topic particle
• 海外 - foreign
• から - particle that indicates origin
• の - Particle that indicates possession
• 報告 - report, information
• を - direct object particle
• する - to do, to accomplish

私は海に潜るのが好きです。

Watashi wa umi ni moguru no ga suki desu

I like diving in the sea.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 海 (umi) - noun that means "sea"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the direction or target of an action
• 潜る (moguru) - "Verb that means 'dive'"
• のが (no ga) - particle indicating that the sentence is an expression of taste or preference
• 好き (suki) - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the formality and politeness of the sentence

私たちは海水浴に行きます。

Watashitachi wa kaisuiyoku ni ikimasu

We go to the beach.

We go to the sea bath.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 海水浴 - sea bath
• に - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きます - verb "to go" in the present

船が海を渡っています。

Fune ga umi wo watatte imasu

The ship is crossing the sea.

The ship is crossing the sea.

• 船 - means "boat" in Japanese
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 海 - means "sea" in Japanese
• を - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 渡っています - verb meaning "to cross" or "to sail" in the present continuous tense

船舶は海を渡る。

Funpaku wa umi wo wataru

Ships cross the sea.

The ship crosses the sea.

• 船舶 - means "ship" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, which indicates that the subject of the sentence is "ship".
• 海 - Means "sea" in Japanese.
• を - object particle in Japanese, which indicates that "sea" is the direct object of the action.
• 渡る - means "to cross" or "to cross over" in Japanese, indicating the action the ship is taking.

荒い海を泳ぐのは危険です。

Arai umi wo oyogu no wa kiken desu

Swimming in a busy sea is dangerous.

It is dangerous to swim in the busy sea.

• 荒い - áspero, agitado
• 海 - sea
• を - direct object particle
• 泳ぐ - swim
• のは - Topic particle
• 危険 - dangerous
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present