Home / Last names / Kai
Kai 海 – Japanese surname
Kai (海) is read かい and has 2 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 海, the characters mean: sea. This reading can be written with at least 20 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 15 strokes in total.
About the name Kai
Kai (甲斐) is an old province, now Yamanashi, ruled by the Takeda clan. It is also a short given name.
How to write Kai in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海 | かい | sea | 9 |
| 開 | かい | open | 12 |
| 加井 | かい | add + well | 9 |
| 改井 | かい | reformation + well | 11 |
| 鹿井 | かい | deer + well | 15 |
| 加衣 | かい | add + garment | 11 |
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
- Ayumi Kai (Japanese order: 海歩美, かい あゆみ)
- Yurina Kai (Japanese order: 海百合奈, かい ゆりな)
- Yuki Kai (Japanese order: 海結城, かい ゆうき)
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 開 (open), 加井 (add + well), 改井 (reformation + well).
How do you write Kai in kanji?
The most common way is 海 (かい). It can also be written 開, 加井, 改井, 鹿井, 加衣.
How do you write Kai in katakana?
Kai is カイ in katakana and かい in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Kai?
Kai is read かい and has 2 syllables (morae).
Share: XFacebookPinterestRedditWhatsApp
Themes: Nature
Other surnames that use 海
海: sea, ocean
Names with a similar sound
Similar last names by meaning
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.