海: the kanji for sea and ocean
海 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means sea, ocean. Below are its readings, 11 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
海 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
海 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
カイ (kai)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 海外かいがい · kaigai | overseas |
| 海岸かいがん · kaigan | coast; beach |
| 海水浴かいすいよく · kaisuiyoku | sea bathing |
| 日本海にほんかい · Nihonkai | Sea of Japan |
| 北海道ほっかいどう · Hokkaidō | Hokkaido |
| 航海こうかい · kōkai | voyage |
| 海外出張かいがいしゅっちょう · kaigai shutchō | overseas business trip |
| 海産物かいさんぶつ · kaisanbutsu | seafood products |
うみ (umi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 海うみ · umi | sea; ocean |
| 海辺うみべ · umibe | beach; seaside |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 海, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 海原うなばら · unabara | the ocean |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 来月、海外出張があります。Raigetsu, kaigai shutchō ga arimasu.I have an overseas business trip next month.
- 夏休みに家族と海へ行きました。Natsuyasumi ni kazoku to umi e ikimashita.I went to the beach with my family during summer vacation.
- 北海道の支社で働いています。Hokkaidō no shisha de hataraite imasu.I work at the Hokkaido branch.
- 海外の取引先と英語で話します。Kaigai no torihikisaki to Eigo de hanashimasu.I speak with overseas business partners in English.
- この町は海産物がおいしいです。Kono machi wa kaisanbutsu ga oishii desu.The seafood in this town is delicious.
- 海辺のホテルに泊まりました。Umibe no hoteru ni tomarimashita.I stayed at a hotel by the sea.
Questions about 海
How many strokes does 海 have?
海 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 海?
The on readings are kai (カイ). The kun readings are umi (うみ).
What does 海外 mean?
海外 (kaigai) literally means "beyond the sea" and is the everyday word for overseas or abroad. Because Japan is an island nation, 海外 is used for every foreign country.
What JLPT level is 海?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Places and buildings
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 海
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.