noun
Refers to the sea area away from the coast, often used in contrast to the shore or harbor.
船が沖へ出ていった。
The boat went out to the open sea.
沖には小さな島が見える。
A small island is visible offshore.
noun
Okinawa (abbreviation)
Only when written 沖
Abbreviation for 沖縄 (Okinawa). Used in compound words or informal contexts.
See also: 沖縄
沖縄のことを「沖」と略すことがある。
Okinawa is sometimes abbreviated as 沖.
The kanji 沖 originally means 'open sea' or 'offshore'. The abbreviation for Okinawa comes from the first character of 沖縄.