海
sea · ocean
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
Water + every
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of water (氵) and every (毎). Mother water, vast body of water.
Symbolism
Ocean, vastness, adventure. Symbolizes lifeline of island nation Japan.
Spiritual Meaning
In Shinto, a vast divine realm governed by Watatsumi (sea god). An otherworld symbolized by Dragon Palace legend; also represents life's origin and purification.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Expanse of the sea
Seasonal
"Beach opening" announces summer's start. "Sea bathing" is the representative summer leisure, symbolizing Japanese summer.
Anime & Manga
ONE PIECE
わんぴーす
One Piece(1997)
Author: Eiichiro Oda
A pirate adventure story. 'Sea' symbolizes freedom and adventure throughout the narrative.
View on Amazon →海獣の子供
かいじゅうのこども
Children of the Sea(2019)
Author: Daisuke Igarashi
'Sea' in the title; a fantastical story depicting the mysteries of the ocean and origins of life.
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一天四海
いってんしかい
the world; the universe; the world
海千山千
うみせんやません
cunning and experienced in the ways of the world; crafty and worldly-wise; sly old (fox); cunning and experienced in the ways of the world
人海戦術
じんかいせんじゅつ
human wave attack; human wave tactics; throwing people at a problem; human wave attack
天空海濶
てんくうかいかつ
the open sky and the serene sea; as open as the sky and serene as the sea; magnanimous; the open sky and the serene sea
四海同胞
しかいどうほう
universal brotherhood; universal brotherhood
海内無双
かいだいむそう
unparalleled in the whole country; unparalleled in the whole country
四海兄弟
しかいけいてい
people in the whole world being all brothers; universal brotherhood; people in the whole world being all brothers
海底撈月
かいていろうげつ
totally useless (fruitless) effort; wasting time on an impossible task (like trying to scoop up a reflected moon from the bottom of the sea); totally useless (fruitless) effort
滄海桑田
そうかいそうでん
the world is a scene of constant changes; the blue sea turns into a mulberry field; the world is a scene of constant changes
桑田滄海
そうでんそうかい
the world is a scene of constant changes (as a mulberry field changing into a blue sea); the world is a scene of constant changes (as a mulberry field changing into a blue sea)
桑田碧海
そうでんへきかい
the world is a scene of constant changes (as a mulberry field changing into a blue sea); the world is a scene of constant changes (as a mulberry field changing into a blue sea)
滄海遺珠
そうかいのいしゅ
talented person unbeknownst to the world; talented person unbeknownst to the world