Translation guide
The sea near the coast, often used in contexts like fishing, navigation, or environmental discussion. Japanese has several common terms that vary by nuance and register.
Fishing is thriving in these coastal waters.
Literally 'near seas', commonly used for waters relatively close to shore, especially in fishing and shipping contexts.
Fish caught in coastal waters are fresh.
A more formal or technical term, often used in legal or geographical contexts. Less common in daily speech.
We need to protect the coastal ecosystem.
To emphasize the immediate area where land meets sea, often for swimming, small boats, or scenery.
To refer to the legal zone of coastal waters under a nation's jurisdiction.
The standard term for 'territorial waters', used in legal, political, and news contexts.
The ship entered Japan's coastal waters.
A formal term for 'coastal waters' as a jurisdictional zone, often used in international law or environmental regulations.
近海 is more common in everyday contexts like fishing and weather reports, while 沿岸海域 is slightly more formal and often used in environmental or scientific discussions. Both can translate 'coastal waters', but 近海 implies a broader 'nearby sea' area, not necessarily hugging the coast.
Directly translating 'coastal waters' as 海岸の水 (kaigan no mizu) would mean 'water from the coast' or 'beach water', which is unnatural. Use the terms above instead.
It's safe to swim in the coastal waters.
Management of coastal waters is important.