How to say "seaweed" in Japanese

• 海藻かいそうCommon
  nounThe main, everyday word for seaweed, especially the kinds eaten in Japanese cooking or seen washed up on the shore. When you mean 'seaweed' in general, this is usually the word you want.
• 藻もCommon
  no-adjectiveA broader word covering algae, waterweed, and similar water plants, with seaweed only one of its senses. It suits biological or descriptive talk of growth in water rather than everyday references to edible seaweed.
• 海草かいそうCommon
  nounA colloquial variant meaning the same seaweed as 海藻; the two are read identically. In careful writing 海藻 is preferred, so learners should normally use that form instead.

Use 海藻 for edible or general seaweed, 藻 for algae or water plants broadly, and note that 海草 is a colloquial variant of 海藻 with the same meaning.

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

• 海藻かいそうseaweed
• 藻もalgae
• 玉藻たまもseaweed
• 海藻類かいそうるいseaweed
• 藻草もぐさwater plant
• 海草かいそうseaweed