also: ぎゃくろう · げきろう
choppy seas; head sea
Refers to waves moving against the direction of a vessel or current; a nautical term for rough, opposing water conditions.
The ship advanced while being troubled by head seas.
The head sea was high, making fishing difficult.
荒波 means 'rough seas' in general, without the specific nuance of waves opposing the vessel's course.
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading さかなみ.
Alternate kanji spelling; also used for the readings ぎゃくろう and げきろう.
Rare on'yomi reading of 逆浪.
Rare on'yomi reading of 逆浪.
Compound of 逆 (saka, 'opposite, reverse') and 波 (nami, 'wave'). The on'yomi readings ぎゃくろう and げきろう are Sino-Japanese compounds of the same characters.