海 岸(かいがん)

かいがん

noun

seashore, coast

1. seashore, coast, beach

The area of land along the edge of the sea. The boundary between land and ocean.

海岸(かいがん)を歩(ある)きました。

I walked along the seashore.

夏(なつ)は海岸(かいがん)に行(い)きます。

I go to the beach in summer.

海岸(かいがん)から海(うみ)を見(み)ました。

I looked at the sea from the shore.

子(こ)どもたちが海岸(かいがん)で遊(あそ)んでいます。

Children are playing on the beach.

この海岸(かいがん)は静(しず)かで美(うつく)しいので、毎年(まいとし)夏(なつ)に来(き)ます。

This beach is quiet and beautiful, so I come here every summer.

海岸(かいがん) refers to the coastline or seashore—the boundary where land meets the ocean. It's a general term for coastal areas.

Etymology: Combines 海(うみ) (sea) + 岸(きし) (shore/bank).

Common expressions

海岸(かいがん)を歩(ある)く: to walk along the shore
海岸(かいがん)線(せん): coastline
海岸(かいがん)沿(ぞ)い: along the coast

Similar words

砂浜(すなはま): sandy beach (specific type)
浜辺(はまべ): beach, seashore (slightly more poetic)
海辺(うみべ): seaside, by the sea
岸(きし): shore, bank (general, also for rivers)

Japan is an island nation with extensive coastlines, making 海岸(かいがん) a frequently used word in geography and daily life.

Related Words

Compare: 砂浜(すなはま) (sandy beach)

Compare: 浜辺(はまべ) (beach, seashore)

Compare: 海辺(うみべ) (seaside, by the sea)

Compare: 沖(おき) (open sea, offshore)

Related: 浜(はま) (beach, shore)

Compare: ビーチ (beach)

Compare: 海水浴場(かいすいよくじょう) (swimming beach)

Compare: 湖岸(こがん) (lakeshore)

core

Added 2026.1.7 21:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

00500/00852_kaigan