沿海

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 沿海 is read えんかい and refers to coastal surroundings or waters close to the coast.
• Basic usage: It is used for coastal fishing villages or vessels traveling along the coast.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Location and route
  • 沿海の村 describes a coastal village, while 沿海を航行する船 describes a vessel traveling through coastal waters. In the latter, を marks the route.
• Focus compared with 海岸
  • 海岸 focuses on the shore where sea and land meet, while 沿海 focuses on its surroundings or nearby waters. The word itself does not specify a fixed numerical distance.