‘海鲜’ (hǎi xiān) literally combines ‘海’ (hǎi), meaning ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’, and ‘鲜’ (xiān), meaning ‘fresh’ or ‘delicious’. Together, the term refers to edible aquatic animals — especially fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and mollusks — harvested from saltwater environments. It does not include freshwater species (those are called ‘河鲜’ hé xiān) or farmed seafood unless marketed as such.

This word is widely used in culinary, market, and restaurant contexts across Chinese-speaking regions. It appears in menus, food labels, health discussions, and travel guides — often implying freshness, premium quality, or regional specialty. While ‘海鲜’ is neutral in register, it carries positive connotations of flavor and nutrition. Unlike English ‘seafood’, it rarely includes seaweed or marine plants; those are typically ‘海藻’ (hǎi zǎo) or ‘海带’ (hǎi dài).