海滩
The English phrase "the beach" is 海滩 in Chinese.
You may also see the character 滩 (tān) used to refer to a bank or a beach.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 海滩 is composed of 海 (sea) and 滩 (beach/sandbank).
Which one should you use?
While 海滩 refers to the beach in a general sense, the term 沙滩 specifically emphasizes the sandy nature of the beach. Additionally, 海边 is a very common alternative used when referring to the general area of the beach or the seaside.
Did you know?
- The word 海 (sea) is used in Chinese to describe things that are 'vast' or 'limitless', such as 海量 (sea-like volume) to describe a person's immense generosity.
- In Chinese culture, the concept of 海边 (seaside) is often used to evoke a sense of romanticism or escape, frequently appearing in Mandopop lyrics to symbolize longing or nostalgia.
- The character 滩 (tān) can also describe a 'rapid' in a river, showing that the word for 'beach' is linguistically tied to the movement of water over shallow ground.
Examples in context
- 我们上周去了海滩。We went to the beach last week.This sentence is useful for expressing that you went to the beach in the past.Tatoeba #10005875 by Jeannie, translation #6350120 by CK
- 从这里到海滩该怎么走？How do I get to the beach from here?This sentence is useful for asking for directions to the beach.Tatoeba #11264798 by asuliu, translation #8877635 by CK
- 海滩是一个供孩子们玩乐的理想场所。The beach is an ideal place for children to play.This sentence is useful for describing the beach as a place for children to play.Tatoeba #1873022 by sadhen, translation #1396376 by CK
- 我们正在沙滩上玩耍。We are playing on the beach.
- 今天天气非常炎热，大家都想去海滩游泳。The weather is extremely hot today, and everyone wants to go swimming at the beach.
- 这是一个沿海地区，离最近的沙滩不远。This is a coastal area not far from the nearest beach.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding where to go for a trip.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我们去海滩度假吧。Wǒmen qù hǎitān dùjià ba.Let's go to the beach for a vacation.
- 俊杰 Junjie好主意，我想去游泳。Hǎo zhǔyì, wǒ xiǎng qù yóuyǒng.Good idea, I want to go swimming.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那个海滩的沙子很白。Nàge hǎitān de shāzi hěn bái.The sand at that beach is very white.
- 俊杰 Junjie太棒了，我们明天就出发。Tài bàng le, wǒmen míngtiān jiù chūfā.Great, let's leave tomorrow.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
