1.
bay; gulf; inlet
A body of water partially enclosed by land, forming an indentation in the coastline. Used in geographical and maritime contexts.
海湾に船が停泊している。
Ships are anchored in the bay.
この海湾は天然の良港として知られている。
This bay is known as a natural good harbor.
海湾沿いの地域では、漁業と観光が主な産業になっている。
In the areas along the bay, fishing and tourism are the main industries.
A compound of 海 (sea) and 湾 (bay), used as a slightly more formal or literary term for a bay or gulf. In everyday speech, 湾 alone is more common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 海湾地域: bay area; gulf region
- 海湾沿い: along the bay
- 海湾諸国: gulf states (as in the Persian Gulf countries)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 湾: bay; gulf (the standard, more common term)
- 入り江: inlet; cove (smaller than a bay)
- 内海: inland sea (a sea largely enclosed by land)
USAGE:
The term 海湾 appears in formal or geographical contexts. In news coverage of the Middle East, 海湾戦争 (Gulf War) and 海湾諸国 (Gulf states) are commonly encountered usages.