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Japanese writing sometimes uses kanji purely for their sounds rather than meanings. The country Mozambique, once written as “莫三鼻給,” is a striking example. For foreigners, this may look strange, but it reveals an important aspect of Japanese culture: the flexibility of the writing system to adapt foreign words.

For learners of Japanese, seeing Israel written as 「以色列」 may look confusing. However, this notation is a historical phonetic borrowing. Kanji here do not convey meaning, but approximate the sound of the word. This shows how Japanese integrated foreign names through Chinese transcription.

When foreigners encounter 「德里」 in old Japanese maps or newspapers, it may seem confusing. Yet this form reflects how Japanese once relied on kanji to approximate foreign sounds before katakana became the standard. By exploring this, we can see how language and culture intertwined in Japan’s adaptation of world geography.

In Japanese, Las Vegas is written only in katakana, never in kanji. The reason lies in both historical context and modern writing conventions, making 「ラスベガス」 the only accepted spelling without exception.

The kanji spelling 倫敦 for London comes from a tradition of phonetic transcription using Chinese characters. In the 19th century, when katakana was not yet the dominant script, educated Japanese used kanji to give foreign names prestige and readability. This practice shows how language adapts to culture and how Japan’s writing system once mirrored Chinese influence.

Before katakana became standard, Japanese often used kanji to phonetically represent foreign words. "Morocco" is one such example, historically rendered as "摩洛哥", "馬羅哥", or even "茂禄子". Each character was carefully selected not just for sound, but also for symbolic meaning. In this article, we’ll uncover how these spellings reflect linguistic creativity and cross-cultural interpretation.

Though commonly referred to as “Los Angeles,” the city was once rendered as “羅府” in Japanese. This form is not just a sound-based translation, but a culturally intentional expression that carries respect for the city's stature and symbolizes its expansive character. This article delves into the linguistic and cultural dimensions of the term “羅府.”

In modern Japanese, foreign city names are usually written in katakana. But in the past, names like New York were expressed in kanji, such as "紐育". This article explores why this ateji was chosen, and what it reveals about the linguistic creativity and cultural mindset of the time. By comparing with other examples, we’ll see how phonetic representation met aesthetic judgment.

The term "安哥拉" is more than a phonetic translation — it's a culturally nuanced representation that considers not only sound but also the symbolic meaning of the characters. This article delves into the linguistic history behind the transcription of Angola, highlighting its connection to kanji-based cultural expression.

The kanji 「也門」 is more than just a phonetic mimic of “Yemen.” It reflects a blend of Chinese linguistic borrowing, careful selection of kanji sounds and meanings, and integration into Japanese language culture. This article delves into the cultural and historical layers behind the notation to understand its true significance.