Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
沿海 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沿海yánhǎicoastalHSK 6, f, rank #25777, Hard
yánhǎi(yan2hai3) T2
  1. 1coastal
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
沿海yánhǎi(yan2hai3)

沿海 (yán hǎi) refers to coastal areas that are adjacent to the sea. It is commonly used to describe regions, cities, or economies that are situated by the coast, often emphasizing their geographical and economic significance, particularly in terms of trade and tourism.

Frequency#25777DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, coastal regions such as Guangdong and Zhejiang are crucial for trade and economic development, reflecting a historical shift from inland agricultural economies to coastal commerce, especially since the opening of the economy in the late 20th century.

Memory Tip

Imagine standing on a beach, feeling the waves lapping at your feet. The character 沿 (yán) looks like a person walking along the coast (海, hǎi) while enjoying the sea. This visual connection between 'along' and 'sea' can help you remember the meaning.

Meanings of 沿海

yánhǎi(yan2hai3)
1coastal
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 沿海

沿海Simplified
Strokes
Radical
方位词direction word (dir.)Part of Speech
#25777Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 沿海

JasonAmy

Podcast: 沿海

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 沿海

Quick Contrast

沿岸 (yán'àn) - use 沿海 for coastal areas emphasizing the sea, while 沿岸 focuses on the land along the coast.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine standing on a beach, feeling the waves lapping at your feet. The character 沿 (yán) looks like a person walking along the coast (海, hǎi) while enjoying the sea. This visual connection between 'along' and 'sea' can help you remember the meaning.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 沿海 with 海岸 (hǎi'àn), which specifically means 'shore' or 'coastline.' While 沿海 is more general and can refer to larger regions, keep it in formal contexts, especially in discussions about geography or economics.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 vocabulary word, 沿海 connects with other terms related to geography and environment. Focus on using it in context with other words like 经济 (jīngjì - economy) and 发展 (fāzhǎn - development) to enhance your understanding of coastal regions.

Cultural Note

In China, coastal regions such as Guangdong and Zhejiang are crucial for trade and economic development, reflecting a historical shift from inland agricultural economies to coastal commerce, especially since the opening of the economy in the late 20th century.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 沿海 to describe inland areas, saying '沿海的城市' (yán hǎi de chéngshì - coastal city) when referring to a city far from the coast. Ensure you use it only for places actually adjacent to the sea.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沿海

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 沿海 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

沿yánalong
HSK 58 strokes
View full entry
hǎiocean
HSK 310 strokes
View full entry

Write 沿海

沿

Practice writing 沿海 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 沿海

沿海 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____城市的经济发展很快。

The economy of coastal cities is developing rapidly.

Example Sentences for 沿海 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
服务沿海地区的地方广播电台经常为驾驶游艇出海的人播报天气预报。

fú wù yán hǎi dì qū de dì fāng guǎng bō diàn tái jīng cháng wéi jià shǐ yóu tǐng chū hǎi de rén bō bào tiān qì yù bào。

Local radio stations serving coastal areas often broadcast forecasts for yachtsmen.
2
公路沿海岸线逶迤而行几英里。

gōng lù yán hǎi àn xiàn wēi yǐ ér háng jī yīng lǐ。

The road follows the shoreline for a few miles.
3
“维米号”很快就开始把沿海的多风气候甩在后面.

“ “ wéi mǐ” hào ” hěn kuài jiù kāi shǐ bǎ yán hǎi de duō fēng qì hòu shuǎi zài.

Soon the Vimy began to leave the gusty coastal weather behind.

Cultural Notes for 沿海

🏮Cultural insight

In China, coastal regions such as Guangdong and Zhejiang are crucial for trade and economic development, reflecting a historical shift from inland agricultural economies to coastal commerce, especially since the opening of the economy in the late 20th century.

Frequently Asked Questions about 沿海

You can say: '中国沿海地区的经济发展迅速' (The economy of China's coastal areas is developing rapidly).