What does 海 mean in Chinese?

海 (hǎi) means "ocean; sea; ,片[pian4]; great number of people or things; (dialect) numerous" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 海?

海 is pronounced "hǎi" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 海?

海 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 海?

Common words with 海 include 上海 (Shanghai municipality, central east China, abbr. to 滬|沪[Hu4]), 上海市 (Shanghai municipality in southeast China, abbr. 滬|沪), 上海话 (Shanghainese), 上海大学 (Shanghai University), 上海白菜 (baby bok choy).

How do you write 海?

海 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 氵. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

海 (hǎi), ocean

海

hǎi

ocean; sea; ,片[pian4]; great number of people or things

HSK 3 New to HSKclassifier10 strokes

Character Breakdown

海 = 氵 + 每

Water of every mother — the sea

Radical: 氵 (no. 85)Strokes: 10

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) ocean
sea
,片[pian4]
great number of people or things
(dialect) numerous

Classifier: 个 (gè), 片 (piàn)

Example Sentences

海很大。

Hǎi hěn dà

The sea is vast

Words Containing 海

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
上海	Shàng hǎi	Shanghai municipality, central east China, abbr. to 滬\|沪[Hu4]
上海市	Shàng hǎi shì	Shanghai municipality in southeast China, abbr. 滬\|沪
上海话	Shàng hǎi huà	Shanghainese
上海大学	Shàng hǎi Dà xué	Shanghai University
上海白菜	Shàng hǎi bái cài

Related Words

大(dà)· big

→

人才济济(rén cái jǐ jǐ)· a galaxy of talent (idiom)

→

不咋地(bù zǎ de)· (dialect) not that great

→

人民大会堂(Rén mín Dà huì táng)· the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

→

Grammar Notes

Same As (跟...一样)HSK 2

A 跟/和 B 一样 (+ Adjective)

From...To (从...到)HSK 2

从 + Starting Point + 到 + Ending Point

Pivotal Sentence (兼语句)HSK 4

Subject1 + Verb1 + Noun (pivot) + Verb2 + Object2

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

海: New to the HSK lists at HSK 3. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 3 exam

Studying for HSK 3? Keep 海 with the rest of your level.

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Start studying free The words new HSK 3 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.