東とう海かい

noun

Tōkai region; central Pacific-side region of Honshu

Refers to the Tōkai region of Honshu, commonly including Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie, and southern Gifu. Often used in weather, transport, business, and regional news contexts; 東海地方 is the fuller expression.

See also: 東海地方

• 明日あしたは東とう海かいで大おお雨あめになる見み込こみです。

  Heavy rain is expected in the Tōkai region tomorrow.

• 東とう海かいは自じ動どう車しゃ産さん業ぎょうが盛さかんな地ち域いきだ。

  Tōkai is a region where the automobile industry is thriving.

noun

eastern sea; sea to the east

Literal Sino-Japanese use meaning a sea lying to the east. In ordinary modern prose, 東の海 is often more transparent, while 東海 tends to sound compact, formal, or name-like.

• 古ふるい地ち理り書しょでは、その国くにの東ひがしに広ひろがる海うみを東とう海かいと呼よんでいる。

  In the old geography book, the sea spreading east of that country is called the eastern sea.

noun

Tōkaidō; Edo-period Edo-Kyoto highway

Historical abbreviated use for 東海道, especially the Edo-period highway linking Edo and Kyoto. This is not the usual modern way to refer to the road or route.

See also: 東海道

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの資し料りょうでは、東とう海かい道どうを略りゃくして東とう海かいと記しるすことがある。

  In Edo-period materials, Tōkaidō is sometimes abbreviated and written as 東海.

noun

Japan

Archaic and poetic use for Japan, especially in literary or classical-style contexts. Modern Japanese normally uses 日本 or similar names instead.

• 古こ典てんや漢かん詩しでは、東とう海かいが日本にほんを指さすことがある。

  In classical texts and Chinese-style poetry, 東海 can refer to Japan.