海峡

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 海峡 is read as かいきょう and is a noun for a strait, a narrow body of water connecting larger areas of sea between landmasses.
• Basic usage: Ships passing through appear in 海峡を行き交う, while building a bridge across one appears in 海峡に橋を架ける.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Connection and separation
  • It is both a channel connecting parts of the sea and a geographical feature separating islands or other landmasses.
• Difference from 海
  • 海 broadly denotes the sea, while 海峡 identifies a particular narrow maritime passage between landmasses.