LOANWORD

In East Asian languages, foreign place names are often written in kanji through either phonetic transcription or semantic translation. Afghanistan is rendered as “阿富汗斯坦” based on its pronunciation, rooted in a long tradition of linguistic and cultural exchange. This article breaks down the cultural reasoning behind this unique form.

Modern Japanese typically represents foreign countries with katakana, yet in older sources, Iraq appears as 伊拉久. This form reflects a unique blend of phonetic adaptation and kanji tradition. In this article, we unpack the reasons behind such transcriptions, what they reveal about Japanese writing, and how they connect to a broader East Asian linguistic framework.

Have you ever seen the name Algeria written as “阿爾及” in Japanese? This rare kanji form carries with it deep historical and linguistic significance. In this article, we’ll uncover the logic behind the phonetic translation of foreign place names into kanji, and explain what makes “阿爾及” a meaningful part of Japan’s language evolution.

Japan once had a rich tradition of representing foreign names using kanji based on pronunciation alone. Uganda, written as “烏干達,” is one such example. Rather than translating meaning, the aim was to approximate sound using familiar characters. This approach reveals much about how Japan once adapted global names into its writing system.

Have you ever wondered why Sudan is written as "蘇丹" in Japanese? This isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a reflection of how Japanese absorbs foreign terms through kanji-based phonetic approximation. By looking at the case of Sudan, this article unpacks the broader cultural and linguistic system behind these fascinating characters.

The kanji spelling of "Ireland" as "愛蘭" or "愛蘭土" may seem curious, but it originates from a thoughtful process that goes beyond simple phonetics. Each kanji was selected to match both sound and sentiment, forming a name that resonates with Japanese cultural aesthetics. Let’s take a closer look at how Ireland came to be known by these characters in Japanese writing.

Kanji forms of foreign place names emerged from the historical exchange between Japanese and Chinese. Ukraine is one such example, written as "烏克蘭" in Kanji and abbreviated as "宇". This article explores their historical background and modern usage.

The kanji notations “哥倫比亜” and “古倫比亜” are valuable evidence of how Japan once adopted foreign place names. The choice of characters based on sound rather than meaning tells a story of Japanese linguistic flexibility and its historical context.

The term “緬甸” is rarely seen in everyday conversation, yet it is a remnant from the period when Japan adopted place names from Chinese sources. Understanding this background reveals the close connection between the Japanese language and the broader Chinese-character cultural sphere.

The term “肯尼亜” is rarely seen in modern Japanese, but it was once widely used. Behind this lies a Chinese-derived phonetic transcription and Japanese writing conventions from the Meiji to early Showa era. This article explores why this notation emerged and how it evolved.