Translation and Meaning of: 湾 - wan

The word 「湾」 (wan) is a term that refers to a "bay" or "cove," describing a portion of the sea or lake that extends into the land, forming a kind of natural shelter. This word is widely used in geographical and nautical contexts to mention areas of relatively calm waters, due to their protection from strong winds and large waves.

Etymologically, the kanji 「湾」 is composed of the radical 「氵」, which is a simplified form of 「水」 (mizu), meaning "water," on the left, and the part on the right 「弯」, which means "curved" or "bent." This combination of elements gives the word the meaning of "curved water" or "water curvature," which aligns well with the geographical description of a bay. It is interesting how the structure of the kanji visually encapsulates the notion of water curving around a piece of land.

The term 「湾」 is not limited to just Japanese, as it is also used in other languages that employ kanji, such as Chinese. In both languages, the kanji representation remains consistent, although pronunciation may vary. In the Japanese language, in addition to 「湾」, expressions such as 「湾岸」 (wangan), meaning "bay coast", are used to designate urban or port areas close to these natural formations.

Variations and Everyday Use

• 「東京湾」 (Tōkyō-wan): Refers to Tokyo Bay, one of the most famous in Japan, surrounded by the metropolis of Tokyo and known for its economic and cultural importance.
• "湾曲" (wankyoku): The word is used to describe something that is "curved" or "arched," extending the original meaning of "湾" to other situations.

Understanding the kanji 「湾」 goes beyond just knowing that it means "bay." It is a fascinating example of how Chinese characters have been adapted and used in Japanese to depict natural elements. From a cultural perspective, regions around important bays in the world have historically played crucial roles in trade, defense, and human development, reflecting how vital these geographical formations are to civilization.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 海湾 (awan) - bay
• 湾口 (wankō) - Bay entrance
• 湾曲 (wankyoku) - Curvature; curved shape
• 湾内 (wannai) - Interior of the bay
• 湾岸 (wangan) - Bay coast
• 湾港 (wanko) - Port in the bay
• 湾入り (waniri) - Entrance (to the inside of the bay)
• 湾奥 (wano) - Bay bottom
• 湾状 (wanjō) - Bay shape
• 湾曲線 (wankyokusen) - Bay curve
• 湾曲部 (wankyokubu) - Curved part
• 湾内海 (wannaiumi) - Inner sea of the bay
• 湾口部 (wankōbu) - Bay entrance area
• 湾岸線 (wangan-sen) - Bay coastline
• 湾入口 (wan iriguchi) - Bay entrance
• 湾入部 (wan nyūbu) - Entry area in the bay
• 湾内部 (wan naibu) - Interior of the bay
• 湾港部 (wankōbu) - Port area in the bay
• 湾奥部 (wanōbu) - Bay bottom area
• 湾曲路 (wankyokuro) - Curved path
• 湾曲部分 (wankyokububun) - Curved part
• 湾曲角 (wankyokukado) - Curved angle
• 湾曲形 (wankyokukei) - Forma curva
• 湾曲面 (wankyokumen) - Curved surface
• 湾曲半径 (wankyokuhan-kei) - Curvature radius
• 湾曲方向 (wankyokuhōkō) - Direction of curvature
• 湾曲部位 (wankyokubui) - Location of the curvature
• 湾曲橋 (wankyokukyō) - Curved bridge
• 湾曲度 (wankyokudo) - Curvature degree

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湾

Romaji: wan
Kana: わん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: bay; gulf; Prohibited

Meaning in English: bay;gulf;inlet

Definition: A place where the sea or the beach enters. Where the coast is sinuous.

Example Sentences - (湾) wan

See below some example sentences:

淡水は台湾の北部にある美しい港町です。

Dansui wa Taiwan no hokubu ni aru utsukushii koumachi desu

Danshui is a beautiful port city located in the northern part of Taiwan.

Tamami is a beautiful port city in the northern part of Taiwan.

• 淡水 - Name of the city of Tamsui
• は - Topic particle
• 台湾 - Taiwan
• の - Possessive particle
• 北部 - Region norte
• に - Location particle
• ある - Verb "to be" in the present
• 美しい - Adjective "beautiful"
• 港町 - harbor
• です - Verb "to be" in the present

私たちは美しい湾を見て散歩しました。

Watashitachi wa utsukushii wan o mite sanpo shimashita

We walked and saw a beautiful bay.

We take a walk in the beautiful bay.

• 私たち - we
• 美しい - beautiful
• 湾 - bay
• を - direct object particle
• 見て - To see
• 散歩 - to walk
• しました - made