Meaning
海
hǎi
Sea, ocean
- 海
- sea, ocean
One character for the sea.
Ocean in Chinese
The Chinese word for ocean is 海 (hǎi). One character for the sea.
海
hǎi
Ocean
What 海 means.
海 combines water (氵) with 每 for its sound. The sea stands for breadth of mind: 海纳百川, “the sea takes in a hundred rivers”, praises a person who is open and tolerant.
- 海
- sea, ocean
Simplified and traditional
海
海
海 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
Pick the shade of meaning.
Chinese often has more than one word where English has one. Here is how they differ.
Meaning
大海
dà hǎi
The great sea
- 大
- big, great
- 海
- sea
The open ocean, vast and deep.
About ocean in Chinese
How do you write ocean in Chinese?
Ocean is 海 in Chinese, pronounced hǎi. Sea, ocean
How do you pronounce 海?
Say hǎi (third tone, dipping). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 海 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 海 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
What other Chinese words mean ocean?
大海 (dà hǎi): The great sea The open ocean, vast and deep.
Is 海 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. As a single character it works even at small sizes. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.