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環海 (かんかい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

環かん海かい

か

ん

か

い

Meanings

1

noun

surrounding seas; being surrounded by the sea

Refers to seas that encircle a landmass, or the state of being encircled by the sea. Often used in geographical or poetic contexts.

日本にほんは環かん海かいの国くにである。
Japan is a country surrounded by the sea.
環かん海かいの孤こ島とうに住すむ人ひと々びと。
People living on an isolated island in the surrounding seas.

Kanji

環ring, circle, loop
海sea, ocean

Similar words

海うみ
海 is the general word for 'sea' or 'ocean', while 環海 specifically emphasizes the encircling or surrounding aspect of seas.
周しゅう囲い
周囲 means 'surroundings' or 'periphery' in a general sense, whereas 環海 is limited to seas as the surrounding element.

Etymology

Compound of 環 (kan, 'ring' or 'encircle') and 海 (kai, 'sea'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent from its components.