Meaning

Primary

Atlantic Ocean

Word Type

proper noun

Explanation

A big west ocean, you say? It's gotta be the Atlantic Ocean.

If you think about it from Japan's perspective, the Atlantic is a big, faraway ocean to the west, right?

Reading

たいせいよう
  • Miyuki
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word that uses on'yomi readings for all three kanji. You've seen these readings before, but the 西 reading (せい) is still pretty new, so here's a mnemonic refresher just in case:

While swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, you find a saber (せい). Yikes, how'd this rusty old saber get here? This thing must have floated across the Atlantic from some seaside battlefield of yore. Those old sabers are always washing up on Atlantic shores, you know.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 大西洋の海

    the Atlantic ocean

    大西洋の島々

    islands of the Atlantic

    大西洋の国々

    Atlantic countries

Context Sentences

大西洋はとても大きいです。

The Atlantic Ocean is very big.

私はまだ大西洋を見たことがありません。

I have not seen the Atlantic Ocean yet.

大西洋はアメリカとヨーロッパの間にあります。

The Atlantic Ocean is between America and Europe.

大西洋を泳いでわたろうとしましたが、1分であきらめました。

I tried to swim across the Atlantic, but gave up after a minute.

Kanji Composition