Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
海上 (かいじょう, kaijou) Japanese meaning: on the sea | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
The sea was calm and the ship sailed smoothly.
The Japan Coast Guard headed to the rescue.
Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 が 海かい 上じょう に 浮う かぶ for something to float on the sea
A small boat was floating on the sea.
海かい 上じょう を 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to travel/move across the sea
A cargo ship is sailing across the sea.
海かい 上じょう で 〈 事こと 〉 が 起お こる for an incident to happen at sea
An accident occurred at sea due to the typhoon.
Related words 洋上 is a more literary word for 'on the open sea', while 海上 is the common, general term used in everyday and official contexts like 海上交通.
海上 refers to the area on or above the sea (as in shipping or weather), whereas 海面 points to the actual surface line of the sea itself.
Opposites 陸上 means 'on land', directly contrasting with 海上 'on the sea', as in 陸上交通 vs 海上交通.
海中 refers to being underwater or inside the sea, whereas 海上 refers to the surface or above the water.
Etymology Compound of 海 (sea) and 上 (above/on). The reading かいじょう is the standard Sino-Japanese reading; かいしょう is an older variant.
maritime safety; coast guard (general concept) · Japan Coast Guard (abbreviation)
Show 5 more maritime insurance; marine insurance
naval blockade; sea blockade
seizure at sea; maritime capture
naval militia; maritime militia
offshore airport; airport built on the sea
