1.
swimming beach; bathing beach; seaside bathing area
A designated area along the coast where people can swim in the sea, typically with facilities such as changing rooms, lifeguards, and beach houses.
夏になると海水浴場は混む。
In summer, the swimming beaches get crowded.
この海水浴場は水質がよくて人気がある。
This beach is popular because of its good water quality.
台風の影響で、県内のすべての海水浴場が遊泳禁止になった。
Due to the typhoon, all swimming beaches in the prefecture were closed to swimmers.
Composed of 海水浴 (sea bathing) + 場 (place, grounds). Refers to an officially designated coastal area for swimming, not just any stretch of beach. In Japan, 海水浴場 typically operate only during the summer season (roughly July through August) and are staffed with lifeguards during that period.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 海水浴場の開設: opening of a swimming beach
- 海水浴場が閉鎖される: a beach is closed
- 遊泳禁止の海水浴場: a beach closed to swimmers
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 海岸: coast, seashore — the physical coastline, not necessarily a swimming area
- ビーチ: beach — a loanword used more casually, often for resort-style beaches
- 砂浜: sandy beach — describes the type of shore surface