海水浴(かいすいよく)

Etymology

海水(かいすい) (seawater) + 浴(よく) (bathing). The suffix ～浴(よく) appears in other bathing-related words:

• 日光浴(にっこうよく): sunbathing
• 入浴(にゅうよく): bathing
• 森林浴(しんりんよく): forest bathing

Common patterns

• 海水浴(かいすいよく)に行(い)く: to go sea bathing
• 海水浴(かいすいよく)を楽(たの)しむ: to enjoy sea bathing
• 海水浴場(かいすいよくじょう): a public swimming beach
• 海水浴(かいすいよく)客(きゃく): beachgoers

Cultural note

Sea bathing season in Japan typically runs from mid-July to late August. 海水浴場(かいすいよくじょう) are officially designated beaches with lifeguards and facilities, and many close outside the designated season.