Translation guide
A body of water partly enclosed by land, smaller than a gulf. In Japanese, the most common word is 湾 (わん), often used in names. For a small bay or inlet, 入り江 (いりえ) is used. There are also specific terms for bays in geography or architecture.
A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward.
The standard word for a bay, often used in proper names like Tokyo Bay (東京湾). Can be used alone or in compounds.
Tokyo Bay is beautiful.
The ship entered the bay.
A small bay, inlet, or cove, often with a more irregular shape. Conveys a sense of a sheltered, intimate body of water.
An older term for a bay, inlet, or seashore, often found in place names and classical poetry. Not commonly used in modern conversation.
Referring to a specific named bay, like Hudson Bay or the Bay of Bengal.
Attach 湾 (わん) directly to the name. For foreign bays, the name is usually in katakana.
Hudson Bay
A window projecting outward from a building.
A bay window or oriel window. Commonly used in architecture and daily life.
A reddish-brown color with black points, used for horses.
Specifically refers to a bay horse color. Used in equestrian contexts.
An evergreen tree of the laurel family, whose leaves are used as a herb.
A defined area or compartment, such as a loading bay or a parking bay.
Loanword from English, used in compounds like ローディングベイ (loading bay) or パーキングベイ (parking bay).
湾 (わん) is the general term for a bay, often large and open. 入り江 (いりえ) refers to a smaller, more enclosed inlet or cove, often with a picturesque quality. Use 湾 for geographical names and larger bodies; use 入り江 for small, sheltered bays.
Tokyo Bay is a large bay.
The bay was calm and blue.
We swam in the cove.
The inlet is surrounded by rocks.
The bay of Matsushima has beautiful scenery.
Bay of Bengal
I put flowers on the bay window.
Literally 'projecting window', a more technical term for a bay window.
This house has a bay window.
彼は鹿毛の馬に乗っている。
He is riding a bay horse.
The bay laurel tree. Leaves are called ローリエ (laurel) in cooking.
I use bay leaves in cooking.
Loanword from French 'laurier', commonly used for the culinary herb bay leaf.
Simmer with a bay leaf.
トラックがローディングベイに停まっている。
The truck is parked at the loading bay.
A section or compartment, can be used for parking bays or storage bays.
Park the car in the parking bay.
小さな入り江で休んだ。
We rested in a small cove.
湾岸 (わんがん) means 'bay coast' or 'bay shore', often used in road names like 湾岸道路 (coastal road). It does not mean 'bay' itself.
We anchored in a small bay.