niche_japan2025

In Japanese, "Egypt" is sometimes expressed using the kanji "埃及" (Aikyū)—a representation that might confuse many learners. However, this isn’t just a random combination of characters. It embodies a historical method of phonetic translation, borrowed from Chinese tradition, where the sound rather than the semantic meaning of characters defines their use. This article explores how such terms reflect Japan’s flexible, layered writing system and its evolution in a globalized world.

The kanji “新西蘭” may appear mysterious, but it reflects Japan’s linguistic adaptation of Western terms via Chinese transliteration. More than just a name, “新西蘭” demonstrates how kanji conveys both sound and meaning, offering a rich symbolic layer to even a simple place name like New Zealand.

Japanese has a unique tradition of expressing foreign place names using kanji-based phonetic transcription. The fact that "Ethiopia" is written as “越日於比亜” or “哀提伯” is deeply rooted in Japan’s linguistic history and writing system. This article explores the connection between sound and kanji and introduces the beauty of Japanese ateji culture in a way that is easy for non-native speakers to understand.