Definition
海 (hǎi) is the everyday word for 'sea' or 'ocean', and it's also used figuratively to mean a vast amount (e.g., 人海 'sea of people'). 海洋 (hǎi yáng) is more formal and refers specifically to the ocean as a large body of water; it is not used in figurative expressions.
noun
seaocean(figuratively) a vast amounta great number of people or things
Measure word · 个, 片
Easily confused
- 还háisound-alikestill, yet (indicating continuation or that something hasn't happened)
- 害hàisound-alike(verb) to harm, to cause trouble to
Examples
- 海。Wǒ māma dài wǒ qù kàn hǎi.My mom took me to see the sea.
- ，海。Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō huā, zhēn shì yí piàn huā hǎi.There are many flowers in the park — it's really a sea of flowers.
- ，。Jiàoshì lǐ rén hěn duō, jiù xiàng yí piàn rén hǎi.There are so many people in the classroom, it's like a sea of people.
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