Abstract: UV-Vis spectral data was analyzed for the surface, middle, and bottom layer water samples of the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea in November and December, 2016.The distribution characteristics, sources and influencing factors of CDOM in the study area had been investigated.The results showed that CDOM concentrations in the Bohai Sea were higher than those in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.In these three Chinese marginal seas, the CDOM concentration showed a decreased trend from the nearshore to the open sea.Strong correlations were observed between value a₃₅₅ and spectra slope S_275-295.Considering the distribution patterns of a₃₅₅ and S_275-295, a dominant terrestrial source of CDOM was concluded.In the Bohai Sea, the highest concentration of CDOM was detected in the Yellow River estuary, due to the combining effects of the direct riverine discharge and sediment re-suspension by strong wave movement in winter.The lowest DOC and CDOM concentrations in the Bohai sea were observed in the regions, where the double-center cold-water mass areas occurred in the summer.The invasion of the Taiwan Warm Current, charactered by high salinity and low DOC, resulted in an obvious regional low value of DOC except for CDOM concentration.CDOM and DOC did not show remarkable correlation in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea.