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沿海 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沿海yánhǎicoastalHSK 6, f, 18 strokes, rank #25777, Hard
yánhǎi(yan2hai3)yan hai T2
  1. 1coastal
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March 24, 2026

沿海yánhǎi(yan2hai3)

沿海 (yán hǎi) refers to coastal areas that are adjacent to the sea. It is commonly used to describe regions, cities, or economies that are situated by the coast, often emphasizing their geographical and economic significance, particularly in terms of trade and tourism.

Strokes18Frequency#25777DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In China, coastal regions such as Guangdong and Zhejiang are crucial for trade and economic development, reflecting a historical shift from inland agricultural economies to coastal commerce, especially since the opening of the economy in the late 20th century.

Memory tip

Imagine standing on a beach, feeling the waves lapping at your feet. The character 沿 (yán) looks like a person walking along the coast (海, hǎi) while enjoying the sea. This visual connection between 'along' and 'sea' can help you remember the meaning.

Meanings of 沿海

yánhǎi(yan2hai3)
1coastal
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 沿海

沿海Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
方位词direction word (dir.)Part of Speech
#25777Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 沿海

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Podcast: 沿海

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AI study notes for 沿海

Quick Contrast

沿岸 (yán'àn) - use 沿海 for coastal areas emphasizing the sea, while 沿岸 focuses on the land along the coast.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 沿海 with 海岸 (hǎi'àn), which specifically means 'shore' or 'coastline.' While 沿海 is more general and can refer to larger regions, keep it in formal contexts, especially in discussions about geography or economics.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 vocabulary word, 沿海 connects with other terms related to geography and environment. Focus on using it in context with other words like 经济 (jīngjì - economy) and 发展 (fāzhǎn - development) to enhance your understanding of coastal regions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 沿海 to describe inland areas, saying '沿海的城市' (yán hǎi de chéngshì - coastal city) when referring to a city far from the coast. Ensure you use it only for places actually adjacent to the sea.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沿海

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Component characters

沿yánalong
HSK 58 strokes氵
View full entry
海hǎiocean
HSK 310 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say coastal in Chinese

“coastal” in Chinese is沿海yánhǎi

沿海 (yán hǎi) refers to coastal areas that are adjacent to the sea. It is commonly used to describe regions, cities, or economies that are situated by the coast, often emphasizing their geographical and economic significance, particularly in terms of trade and tourism.

When to use 沿海

Be cautious not to confuse 沿海 with 海岸 (hǎi'àn), which specifically means 'shore' or 'coastline.' While 沿海 is more general and can refer to larger regions, keep it in formal contexts, especially in discussions about geography or economics.

沿海 or something close to it

沿岸 (yán'àn) - use 沿海 for coastal areas emphasizing the sea, while 沿岸 focuses on the land along the coast.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 沿海 to describe inland areas, saying '沿海的城市' (yán hǎi de chéngshì - coastal city) when referring to a city far from the coast. Ensure you use it only for places actually adjacent to the sea.

Write 沿海

沿
海

Practice writing 沿海 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 沿海

沿海 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

服务____地区的地方广播电台经常为驾驶游艇出海的人播报天气预报。

Local radio stations serving coastal areas often broadcast forecasts for yachtsmen.

Example sentences for 沿海 (3)

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1
服务沿海地区的地方广播电台经常为驾驶游艇出海的人播报天气预报。

fúwù yánhǎi dìqū de dìfang guǎngbō diàntái jīngcháng wèi jiàshǐ yóu tǐng chū hǎi de rén bō bào tiānqìyùbào。

Local radio stations serving coastal areas often broadcast forecasts for yachtsmen.
2
公路沿海岸线逶迤而行几英里。

gōnglù yánhǎi àn xiàn wēi yí ér xíng jǐ Yīng lǐ。

The road follows the shoreline for a few miles.
3
“维米号”很快就开始把沿海的多风气候甩在后面.

“ wéi mǐ hào” hěn kuài jiù kāishǐ bǎ yánhǎi de duō fēngqì hòu shuǎi zài hòumiàn.

Soon the Vimy began to leave the gusty coastal weather behind.

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Frequently asked questions about 沿海

You can say: '中国沿海地区的经济发展迅速' (The economy of China's coastal areas is developing rapidly).

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