Japanese Conversation · Level 120
60 words
Japanese word
内海
Pronunciation
Romajinaikai
Meaning
- nouninland sea
Example
この内海は波が穏やかです。ko no nai kai wa nami ga oda ya ka de su
The waves in this inland sea are calm.
More examples
荒れた海を避けて、船は内海へ入ります。a re ta umi o sa ke te fune wa nai kai e hai ri ma su
To avoid rough seas, the ship enters the inland sea.
Core concept
Describes a body of seawater surrounded by land and connected to the open ocean through a narrow passage.
Common phrases
内海の沿岸nai kai no en gan
the coast of an inland sea
内海へ入るnai kai e hai ru
enter an inland sea
内海を巡るnai kai o megu ru
travel around an inland sea
Definition in Japanese
周囲を陸地に囲まれ、狭い海峡などで外海とつながる海域。shū i o riku chi ni kako ma re sema i kai kyō na do de soto umi to tsu na ga ru kai iki
Word origin
内 (nai, "inside") + 海 (kai, "sea") forms a Sino-Japanese compound for a sea enclosed by land.
Usage tips
- English geography uses inland sea in the established name Seto Inland Sea for 瀬戸内海 (Setouchikai), so the term appears in proper names as well as common nouns.
Other meanings
- baynoun
- gulfnoun
Opposites
- 外海gaikaiopen seanoun