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Kai 海 – Japanese girl given name
Kai (海) is read かい and has 2 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 海, the characters mean: sea. This reading can be written with at least 53 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 19 strokes in total.
About the name Kai
Kai (海 or 開) means sea or open. It is short, and works in many languages.
How to write Kai in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海 | かい | sea | 9 |
| 櫂 | かい | oar | 18 |
| 可意 | かい | can + idea | 18 |
| 歌生 | かい | song + life | 19 |
| 可愛 | かい | can + love | 18 |
| 香以 | かい | incense + by means of | 14 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Kai
Kai in different scripts
| Romaji | Kai |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | かい |
| Katakana | カイ |
| Kanji (most common) | 海 |
Full name examples
- Kai Yuki (Japanese order: 結城海, ゆうき かい)
- Kai Kono (Japanese order: 河野海, こうの かい)
- Kai Maki (Japanese order: 牧海, まき かい)
How to pronounce Kai
Break it into 1 parts: kai. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 2 sound units are written かい.
Questions about Kai
What does Kai mean in Japanese?
Kai has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 海, combines these meanings: sea. Other spellings include 櫂 (oar), 可意 (can + idea), 歌生 (song + life).
How do you write Kai in kanji?
The most common way is 海 (かい). It can also be written 櫂, 可意, 歌生, 可愛, 香以.
How do you write Kai in katakana?
Kai is カイ in katakana and かい in hiragana.
Is Kai a boy or girl name?
Kai is mostly used for girls.
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Themes: NatureLove and kindnessMusic and sound
Other names that use 海
海: sea, ocean
Names with a similar sound
Similar first names by meaning
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.