沖合(おきあい)

沖合(おきあい) refers to the area of sea at some distance from the shore, beyond the immediate coastal zone. It is commonly used in weather reports, fishing contexts, and news about maritime incidents to specify locations away from land.

Common patterns

• 沖(おき) (open sea, offshore) + 合(あい) (area around)
• 沖合(おきあい)で (offshore, in the open sea)
• 沖合(おきあい)に (out to sea)
• ～の沖合(おきあい) (off the coast of ~)
• 沖合(おきあい)～キロ (~ kilometers offshore)

Related words

• 沖(おき) (open sea — also used alone, slightly more literary)
• 岸(きし) (shore, bank — opposite direction)
• 沿岸(えんがん) (coast, coastal area — closer to shore than 沖合(おきあい))