About
The character 海, representing the sea, is a phono-semantic compound formed by the water radical 氵 paired with the component 每, which historically provided a phonetic clue rather than a semantic one, indicating a shared pronunciation in earlier stages of the language. Its structural consistency, with the water element firmly classifying it within the domain of liquid and vast expanses, has anchored its core meaning while allowing for conceptual expansion. Initially denoting the physical ocean, the term gradually acquired figurative applications, such as describing anything immense or boundless, evident in compound words like 火海 (sea of fire) or 脑海 (mind's eye, literally sea of the brain), reflecting a shift from purely literal to more abstract dimensions of scale and quantity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
大海很美丽。
我喜欢去海边。
海鲜很好吃。
我们去看海吧。
海洋里有很多鱼。
他住在海南岛。
这部电影关于海洋保护。
科学家正在研究海洋生态系统。