Why is Russia Called “露国” in Japanese? Tracing the Connection Between History and Sound

In Japanese, the names of foreign countries are sometimes written in kanji characters, and one of the most curious examples is the term “露国” for Russia. The character 露 literally means “dew”, which seems unrelated to the vast, cold image of Russia. So why was this character chosen? This article explores the linguistic and historical background behind this naming convention, shedding light on how sounds and meanings intertwine in East Asian writing.

The Origins of 露国 and Kanji-Based Foreign Names

The term 露国 consists of two characters: 露 (Ro) and 国 (country). Though 露 means “dew,” it was chosen not for its meaning but for its sound, following a Chinese transliteration pattern. The original Chinese transcription for “Russia” was 露西亜 (Lùxīyà), where 露 mimicked the sound “Ro.” Japan adopted this phonetic logic and created the abbreviated form “露国” as a way to concisely refer to Russia in official and academic documents.

Abbreviation Strategy for Foreign Nations in Kanji

Many country names have similar abbreviations in kanji, where semantic meaning is secondary to phonetic resemblance. Below is a table illustrating how several nations are abbreviated in Japanese:

Country	Kanji Abbreviation	Literal Meaning	Chinese Origin
Russia	露国	Dew Country	露西亜
America	米国	Rice Country	亜米利加
Germany	独国	Alone Country	独逸
France	仏国	Buddha Country	仏蘭西
Britain	英国	Hero Country	英吉利

Pronunciation Comparison Between Katakana and Kanji Names

To help learners of Japanese, it’s useful to see how katakana renderings correspond to their kanji abbreviations. The table below shows this side-by-side:

Country	Katakana	Kanji Abbreviation	Pronunciation of Kanji
Russia	ロシア	露国	ろこく (Rokoku)
America	アメリカ	米国	べいこく (Beikoku)
Germany	ドイツ	独国	どっこく (Dokkoku)
France	フランス	仏国	ふつこく (Futsukoku)

Reasons for Adopting Abbreviated Kanji Names

Why were such abbreviated names adopted and preserved in formal writing? There are multiple factors:

Reason	Explanation
Brevity and Clarity	Two-character compounds are concise and easily recognizable in print
Phonetic Approximation	Characters were chosen based on how they sounded, not what they meant
Cultural Continuity	These names reflect historic Chinese influence on Japanese scholarship
Formal and Literary Value	Kanji names are preferred in formal writing, law, and historical literature

Contexts Where 露国 is Still Used

Even though ロシア is commonly used in modern conversation, 露国 still appears in the following contexts:

Context	Examples
News Headlines	Diplomatic articles involving Russia-Japan relations
Legal Documents	Treaty references, defense policy white papers
Academic Research	Historical or linguistic studies discussing the 19th century
Traditional Writing	Literature or speeches where a formal tone is required

Japanese Language Layers: Formality and Function

Japanese allows for both katakana and kanji to represent foreign entities, depending on tone and context. This dual-layer system offers flexibility, allowing writers to choose between modern and traditional representations.

Form	Script Used	Common Usage
Casual	Katakana	Conversation, TV, informal writing
Formal	Kanji	Newspapers, legal documents, academic essays
Neutral	Katakana	School textbooks, web articles

The Cultural Significance of Kanji Abbreviations

Kanji abbreviations reflect more than just linguistic preferences. They are a product of how Japanese society integrated international concepts through Chinese mediation. This shows the layered nature of Japanese knowledge acquisition and language building.

Symbolic Role	Example in Use
Cultural Memory	Use of 仏 for France, evoking Buddhist connotations
Political Identity	米国 reflecting US’s influence in postwar Japan
Educational Purpose	Children learn both katakana and kanji equivalents

Conclusion

The term 露国 is more than just an old-fashioned name for Russia. It is a linguistic bridge that connects modern Japanese to its Chinese scholarly roots. Though the kanji 露 means “dew,” it represents Russia not by metaphor but by phonetic history. This abbreviation, like others, reflects how East Asia structured its understanding of the world through its writing systems. By preserving these forms, Japanese maintains a valuable connection to its past while navigating the present.