Definition
海里 (hǎi lǐ) is a measure word (classifier) used specifically for distance at sea. It equals exactly 1.852 kilometers (about 1.15 statute miles). You use it after a number, just like other Chinese classifiers: 五海里 'five nautical miles'. It appears in maritime, aviation, and navigation contexts — never for land distances (use 公里 or 千米 instead).
measure word
nautical mile
Examples
- 海里。Zhè piàn hǎiyù cóng dōng dào xī dàyuē wǔshí hǎi lǐ.This sea area is about fifty nautical miles from east to west.
- 海里。Zuìjìn de gǎngkǒu lí zhèlǐ hái yǒu yì bǎi duō hǎi lǐ.The nearest port is still over a hundred nautical miles from here.
- 海里。Tāmen de hángsù bǎochí zài měi xiǎoshí shí'èr hǎi lǐ zuǒyòu.They maintain a speed of about twelve nautical miles per hour.
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