海藻
hǎizǎo
The English word seaweed is translated into Chinese as 海藻 (hǎizǎo). Wiktionary also lists 海帶 / 海带 (hǎidài) and 昆布 (kūnbù).
Meaning: marine algae (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 海藻 | hǎizǎo |
| 海帶 / 海带 | hǎidài |
| 昆布 | kūnbù |
The term refers to marine algae.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 海藻 is composed of 海, which means sea and 藻, which means algae or seaweed.
Which one should you use?
海藻 is the general biological term for seaweed. In contrast, 海帶 specifically refers to kelp or laver used in cooking. 昆布 is used for a specific type of kelp, often in the context of botanical references or Japanese cuisine.
How do you pronounce it?
hǎizǎo
Did you know?
- The term 海藻 can also be used metaphorically in Chinese literature to describe something tangled or messy, such as 'disheveled hair'.
- The word 海帶 literally translates to 'sea belt', reflecting the long, strap-like shape of the kelp.
- The character 藻 in 海藻 is also used in the term 藻言, which refers to flowery or overly ornate language.
Examples in context
- 馬尾藻海是一片廣闊的海域，因一種名為「馬尾藻」的自由漂浮海藻而得名。The Sargasso Sea is a vast patch of ocean named for a genus of free-floating seaweed called Sargassum.This sentence is useful for seeing how the term 海藻 is used to describe free-floating seaweed in a geographical context.Tatoeba #13990373 by LeviHighway, translation #6679818 by Hybrid
- 這種海藻的味道很清淡。Zhè zhǒng hǎizǎo de wèidào hěn qīngdàn.This kind of seaweed has a mild flavor.
- 海藻在海水中隨波飄動。Hǎizǎo zài hǎishuǐ zhōng suíbō piāodòng.The seaweed drifts in the seawater.
Example conversation
Xiaowen and Junjie are looking at a menu at a Japanese restaurant.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你想試試這道海藻沙拉嗎？Nǐ xiǎng shìshì zhè dào hǎizǎo shālā ma?Do you want to try this seaweed salad?
- 俊杰 Junjie聽起來不錯，我們點一份吧。Tīng qǐlái bùcuò, wǒmen diǎn yī fèn ba.Sounds good, let's order one.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我聽說海藻很健康。Wǒ tīngshuō hǎizǎo hěn jiànkāng.I heard that seaweed is very healthy.
- 俊杰 Junjie沒錯，我也很喜歡吃。Méicuò, wǒ yě hěn xǐhuān chī.That's true, I like eating it too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seaweed” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
