LOANWORD

The kanji form “羅馬尼亜” for Romania comes from Japan’s unique ateji culture. It is not a translation of meaning but a way to represent the sound of “Romania” using kanji characters.

The country name “Chile” is not only written in katakana but also as “智利” in kanji. These two characters reflect not only phonetic similarity but also a positive meaning for Japanese speakers, making it an interesting learning point for Japanese learners.

The form “哈薩克” is not a translation based on meaning but a phonetic transcription of the name Kazakhstan. While rarely used in daily Japanese, it still appears in historical and academic contexts.

In Japanese, foreign names can be represented in two fascinating ways. Through phonetic ateji, the sound is preserved, while meaning-based Kanji reflects the deeper essence of the name. Taylor Swift’s name becomes an excellent example, showing how language can bridge cultures and creativity.

When a foreigner’s name is written in Japanese, it becomes more than just a translation. Kanji adds layers of meaning, symbolism, and even personality. For Donald Trump, the surname “Trump” carries the meaning of a decisive trump card, which can be reflected directly in Japanese characters. This shows how kanji transforms names into cultural symbols.

Sri Lanka has two notable Japanese kanji names: “錫蘭 (Shakuran)”, based on the old country name Ceylon, and “獅子国 (Shishikoku)”, meaning “Lion Country.” While the first is tied to tea branding and trade history, the second reflects religious and cultural identity. Together, they show how Japan’s language captures both sound and meaning in foreign expressions.

When a name is written in Kanji, it can express a person’s character and story from a fresh perspective. Writing Justin Bieber as “公星美羽” transforms him from just a pop star into a poetic symbol — “a star of justice with beautiful wings.”

When foreigners first encounter the kanji “布基納法索” for Burkina Faso, they may attempt to interpret its literal meaning. Yet, the characters do not describe the nation’s qualities at all. Instead, they are phonetic substitutions chosen only for their sounds. This reflects a broader Japanese tradition of ateji, where kanji are used not for meaning but for sound, linking modern usage to a long history of cultural adaptation.

Foreigners often wonder why Mali, an inland nation in West Africa, is written in Japanese as “馬里”. This form is not about meaning but about capturing sound with Kanji. The characters “馬” (Ma) and “里” (Ri) were chosen because they match the pronunciation of Mali. This highlights how Japanese blends sound and meaning in unique ways, creating a writing system that is both functional and culturally rich.

The kanji "叙利亜" is rarely used today, but it once appeared frequently in newspapers and geography books. It reflects Japan’s tradition of expressing foreign words in kanji, and it remains essential for understanding the history of Japanese writing.