How to say "gulf" in Japanese

• 湾わんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The geographic sense of 'gulf': a large indentation of the sea in a coastline, closely akin to 'bay'. Use this for real bodies of water on maps and in geography.
  川かわは山やまから下くだって湾わんに注そそいでいる。↗

  The river descends from the mountains to the bay below.
• 内海ないかいCommon
  nounAlso geographic, but stresses a body of seawater enclosed or sheltered between land areas — an inland sea. It suits gulfs or waters cut off from the open ocean rather than open coastal indentations.
• 隔たりへだたりCommon
  nounCovers only the figurative 'gulf': a wide difference, gap, or disparity between people, opinions, or situations. It never names an actual body of water, so it is not the word for the geographic sense.
  問題もんだいは、この必要ひつような隔へだたりを埋うめるのが知覚ちかくであるという点てんにある。↗

  The problem lies in the fact that the necessary gap is bridged by perception.

For the geographic sense use 湾 for a gulf as part of the sea, 内海 when stressing an enclosed inland sea; use 「隔たり」 only for the figurative gulf, a wide gap or disparity between people or things.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 湾わんbay
• 内海ないかいinland sea
• 隔たりへだたりdistance
• 海湾かいわんgulf
• 入り海いりうみbay
• 溝みぞgap (between people, countries, etc.)