When studying Japanese, you may notice that the UK is written as 英国 (Eikoku) in newspapers or official documents, while イギリス (Igirisu) is used in daily conversation. This difference confuses many learners who want to use Japanese correctly in both casual and formal contexts. In this article, we will explore why both terms exist and how their meanings developed historically.
THE MEANING OF 英国
WHAT DOES 英国 MEAN IN KANJI
The kanji 英国 consists of two characters shown below.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 英 | Ei | Excellent, superior, hero. Represents “England” here due to Chinese pronunciation adaptation. |
| 国 | Koku | Country or nation. Used as a suffix for countries. |
The character 英 originally means excellent or outstanding person. In ancient China, it was used for heroes or people with great talent. When China encountered England, they used 英 to approximate “Eng” in “England.” Later, Japan adopted this naming system for official terminology. The second character 国 means country and is used for all nation names in kanji. Together, 英国 translates to English country but is understood as the United Kingdom. This naming reflects the deep historical influence of Chinese characters in Japanese vocabulary, especially in official contexts.
WHY JAPANESE USE 英 RATHER THAN IGIRISU
HISTORICAL INFLUENCE FROM CHINA
Japan adopted kanji for writing and inherited Chinese conventions for naming countries. In Chinese, the UK is called 英国 (Yīngguó). Japan used Chinese as its scholarly and diplomatic language for centuries, so these country names entered Japanese unchanged.
| Country | Kanji Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 英国 (Eikoku) | Adopted from Chinese pronunciation. |
| France | 仏国 (Fukkoku) | 仏 originally means Buddha, used phonetically for France. |
| Germany | 独国 (Dokkoku) | 独 means alone or independent, used phonetically for Germany. |
| Italy | 伊国 (Ikoku) | 伊 used for its phonetic similarity to I. |
While Igirisu came from Portuguese “Inglês” in the 16th century and is used in conversation, 英国 remains standard for newspapers, government publications, and diplomatic documents. The coexistence of both terms shows Japan’s dual linguistic history, one from European influence and the other from traditional Chinese-based vocabulary. Learning this distinction is essential for reading formal texts confidently.
IGIRISU VS EIKOKU
DIFFERENCES IN USAGE AND CONTEXT
| Expression | Usage | Note |
|---|---|---|
| イギリス (Igirisu) | Spoken Japanese, daily conversation, casual writing | Derived from Portuguese “Inglês.” |
| 英国 (Eikoku) | Formal documents, newspapers, academic texts, diplomacy | Derived from Chinese naming system using kanji. |
Igirisu is commonly used when talking about travel or daily life. For example, “Igirisu ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?” means “Have you been to the UK?” 英国 is used in newspapers such as “英国首相が訪日,” meaning “UK Prime Minister visits Japan.” Both expressions are important in Japanese learning. Mastery of these terms enables understanding of news articles and official announcements without confusion.
WHY 英 MEANS ENGLAND IN EAST ASIA
THE CHINESE ORIGIN OF 英国
In Chinese, countries are named using characters that approximate sounds while keeping meanings neutral or positive. For England, 英 approximates “Eng” and 国 means country. 英国 then means England or UK. When Japan imported kanji-based vocabulary, it adopted this system. This shared naming reflects cultural and diplomatic ties within East Asia where Chinese served as the scholarly language for centuries. Learning such naming systems helps learners understand the historical roots of Asian languages.
ADDITIONAL TABLE: JAPANESE COUNTRY NAMES AND THEIR ORIGINS
| Country (English) | Japanese Kanji | Original Meaning | Phonetic Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 英国 | Hero, excellent | Chinese approximation of England |
| France | 仏国 | Buddha | Chinese pronunciation of France |
| Germany | 独国 | Alone, independent | Chinese reading of Germany |
| Italy | 伊国 | I | Chinese phonetic use for Italy |
| Russia | 露国 (Rokkoku) | Dew | Chinese approximation of Russia |
This table shows how each country name combines meaning and sound adaptation, reflecting East Asian naming traditions.
EXAMPLES OF OTHER COUNTRIES USING KANJI
KANJI NAMES FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES
| Country | Kanji Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 英国 (Eikoku) | Hero Country, means England or UK. |
| France | 仏国 (Fukkoku) | Buddha Country, used for France. |
| Germany | 独国 (Dokkoku) | Alone Country, used for Germany. |
| Italy | 伊国 (Ikoku) | I Country, used for Italy. |
| Spain | 西班牙 (Supein or Seiban’ya) | Western barbarian, historical usage |
These kanji names appear in newspapers, legal texts, and academic writing. Mastering them is essential for JLPT N2-N1 preparation and professional Japanese usage.
ADDITIONAL TABLE: IGIRISU AND EIKOKU COMPARED IN USAGE
| Context | Common Expression | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Conversation | イギリス | Igirisu ni ikitai desu. (I want to go to the UK.) |
| Newspaper | 英国 | 英国経済が回復した. (The UK economy has recovered.) |
| Academic | 英国 | 英国文学を研究しています. (I study British literature.) |
Understanding these differences enhances reading comprehension and cultural literacy for learners aiming to use Japanese professionally.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the UK is written as 英国 (Eikoku) due to historical adoption of Chinese country naming conventions. Igirisu remains the common spoken name derived from Portuguese. Both terms are essential: Igirisu for conversation and 英国 for reading newspapers and official documents. Understanding why 英 represents England enriches your knowledge of East Asian linguistic connections.It also helps interpret other country names written in kanji. Learning such differences enhances fluency and cultural literacy.
Finally, mastering these naming conventions will give you confidence to read authentic Japanese materials and communicate precisely in formal contexts. Language learning is not just about grammar or vocabulary but understanding culture within words. The story of 英国 shows how Japanese blends Chinese influence and European contact into its unique linguistic identity, making your study richer and more meaningful.
