Kanji meanings › Sea
Kanji for Sea
Japanese has more than one kanji connected to “sea”: 海、洋、沖、鯛、凪. Each has its own feeling. Compare their meanings, readings and the names they appear in.
sea
The sea; vast and calm.
9 strokes On reading カイ (kai) Kun reading うみ (umi) JLPT N3
Dictionary meanings: sea, ocean
Readings used for names on Nazuke: ama, u, una, umi, ka, kai, hiro, hiroshi, mi, wataru
In Japan it appears in about 1,596 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 海: Kyle 海瑠 · Demi 貞海 · Mick 海久 · Mika 海夏 · Mina 海南 · Ming 海久 · Meena 海南 · Minna 海南 · Micael 海夏得 · Mikael 海夏得 · Jeremias 平礼海飛 · Wilhemina 唯琉平海南 and 62 more
ocean
The great, open ocean.
9 strokes On reading ヨウ (you) JLPT N3
Dictionary meanings: ocean, sea, foreign, Western style
Readings used for names on Nazuke: hiro, hiroshi, you, yoshi
In Japan it appears in about 550 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, in both boys’ and girls’ names.
Names written with 洋: Jos 洋鶴 · Yolande 洋蘭登 · Yon 洋 · Jorg 洋瑠久 · Yoko 洋湖 · Joost 洋日斗 · Jochem 洋平夢 · Jochen 洋平 · Johann 洋杏 · Jovita 洋梅太 · Yohanes 洋羽寿 · Filomena 洋弥奈 and 8 more
More about 洋 →open sea
The open sea far from the shore; a wide horizon.
7 strokes On reading チュウ (chuu) Kun reading おき、おきつ、ちゅうする (oki, okitsu, chuusuru) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: open sea, offing, rise high into sky
Readings used for names on Nazuke: oki, chuu
More about 沖 →sea bream
The sea bream, a lucky fish served at celebrations.
Tai (sea bream) is Japan's ultimate celebratory fish, served whole at weddings and New Year banquets for auspicious luck.
19 strokes On reading チョウ (chou) Kun reading たい (tai) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: sea bream, red snapper
Readings used for names on Nazuke: tai
More about 鯛 →calm sea
The stillness of the sea when the wind drops. One of the most popular names for boys in Japan today.
Yunagi refers to the serene evening calm over the Seto Inland Sea when the sea breeze gently fades.
6 strokes Kun reading なぎ、なぐ (nagi, nagu) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: lull, calm, (kokuji)
Readings used for names on Nazuke: na, nagi
In Japan it appears in about 299 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 凪: Hannah 羽凪 · Una 羽凪 · Dena 路凪 · Dina 路凪 · Dona 道凪 · Jana 路凪 · Lana 良凪 · Naty 凪定 · Oona 羽凪 · Rana 良凪 · Dinah 大凪 · Janna 路凪 and 89 more
More about 凪 →Thinking of a tattoo? A single kanji like these is meaningful on its own, but ask a native speaker to check the exact form and stroke order before you commit.
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