近海 (jìn hǎi) — coastal waters; inshore waters | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

近海 refers to the coastal sea zone near the shore, as opposed to the open ocean (远洋) or deep sea (深海). It is a geographic/environmental term used in formal contexts like fisheries, ecology, and policy.

noun

coastal watersinshore waters

Examples

近海。
Zhè piàn jìn hǎi de yú yè zī yuán fēi cháng fēng fù.
The fishery resources of this coastal area are very abundant.
近海。
Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài jiā qiáng duì jìn hǎi shēng tài de jiān cè.
The government is strengthening monitoring of the coastal ecosystem.
近海。
jìn hǎi Wū rǎn wèn tí yǐ jīng yǐn qǐ le guó jì shè huì de guān zhù.
The issue of coastal pollution has already attracted international attention.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

近 (near) and 海 (sea) mean the sea near the coast, i.e. inshore waters.

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.

辶斤近

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

斤

斤jīn近jìn

Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

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.

Appears in

Geography & Landforms

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