海洋 (hǎi yáng) — ocean | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

海洋 refers specifically to the ocean as a whole, the vast body of salt water covering Earth. 海 is more general and can mean any large body of water, including in figurative uses.

noun

ocean

Measure word · 个

Examples

海洋。
hǎi yáng Shì dì qiú shàng zuì dà de dōng xī.
The ocean is the largest thing on Earth.
海洋。
Wǒ xiǎng qù hǎi biān kàn hǎi yáng.
I want to go to the seaside to see the ocean.
海洋。
hǎi yáng Zhōng yǒu hěn duō měi lì de yú.
There are many beautiful fish in the ocean.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

sea and ocean combine to mean ocean.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

每měi海hǎi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

氵羊洋

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

羊

羊yáng洋yáng

Same sound today

洋 pairs 氵, the water part, with 羊 to give its sound.

Appears in

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