湾|わんwan[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, noun (suffix)bay; gulf; inlet
   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.

• Synonym浦うらWrittenA small bay by the sea or a fishing village; mostly seen in place names like 「浦安」. Written/formal prose.
• Synonym入り江いりえNeutralA small cove or inlet where the coast or a lakeshore indents; smaller in scale than 「湾」. Neutral register.
• Related潟かたWrittenA lagoon, or tidal flats exposed at low tide; mostly seen in place names like 「新潟」. Written/formal prose.
• Antonym崎さきNeutralA cape or promontory jutting into the sea; the opposite of 「湾」, which indents into the land. Neutral register.
• Antonym岬みさきNeutralSame word as above: 「岬」 is just another written form of 「崎」, likewise meaning land that juts into the sea.

Use 「湾」 for a large bay; 「入り江」 for a small cove. 「浦」 and 「潟」 turn up mostly in place names. For land jutting into the sea, say 「崎」 or 「岬」.

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

1. （ワン）海岸かいがんが陸地りくちに入り込はいりこんでいるところ。