About

The Chinese name 太平洋 (Tàipíng Yáng) for the "Pacific Ocean" is formed through a direct and vividly descriptive process of meaning-assembly. It takes the concept of the vast ocean and characterizes it by combining the characters for "great" or "extreme" (太), "calm" or "peaceful" (平), and "ocean" (洋), thereby constructing the composite idea of the "Great Peaceful Ocean". This name does not phonetically mimic the Western term but instead creates a new conceptual identity based on the perceived tranquil nature of these waters as historically encountered or imagined by Chinese speakers, essentially painting a poetic picture of an immense, serene sea.

Example Sentences Hide

太平洋是世界上最大的海洋。

Tài Píng Yáng shì shìjiè shàng zuì dà de hǎiyáng.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world.

我们坐船穿过了太平洋

Wǒmen zuò chuán chuānguò le Tài Píng Yáng.

We sailed across the Pacific Ocean.

太平洋拥有许多美丽的岛屿。

Tài Píng Yáng yōngyǒu xǔduō měilì de dǎoyǔ.

The Pacific Ocean has many beautiful islands.

太平洋地区经济非常活跃。

Huán Tài Píng Yáng dìqū jīngjì fēichāng huóyuè.

The Pacific Rim region has a very active economy.

太平洋板块与欧亚板块的碰撞形成了山脉。

Tài Píng Yáng bǎnkuài yǔ Ōu Yà bǎnkuài de pèngzhuàng xíngchéng le shānmài.

The collision of the Pacific Plate and the Eurasian Plate formed mountain ranges.

Word Definition - 太平洋

tài píng yáng Pacific Ocean

Individual Character Details