Sea in Japanese
"sea" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
海
umi
4 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "sea". The most common choice is shown first.
Top pick
sea, ocean
Reading: kai
9 strokes · nature
Where it comes from
Composed of water (氵) and every (毎). Mother water, vast body of water.
What it carries
Ocean, vastness, adventure. Symbolizes lifeline of island nation Japan.
Related kanji for "sea"
sea
you · nature
Composed of water and sheep. Vast ocean.
open sea(also: offing, rise high into sky)
chuu · nature
Composed of water and center. Center of water, open sea.
sea bream(also: red snapper)
chou · nature
Composed of fish and around. Fish around.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for sea?
The most common kanji for "sea" is 海, read as kai. It means sea, ocean. Related kanji: 洋 (sea), 沖 (open sea), 鯛 (sea bream).
How many strokes does 海 have?
海 has 9 strokes.