The city name “Hong Kong” is globally recognized, but in Japanese, it’s written using kanji: 香港. This writing reflects Japan’s linguistic system that values on’yomi (Chinese-based readings), its historical relationship with Chinese, and its emphasis on visual meaning. This article explains why the kanji “香港” is used in Japanese, in a way that’s easy to understand for international readers.
The Origin of the Writing and Pronunciation of 香港
While most foreign place names are written in katakana in Japanese, some, like Hong Kong, are expressed in kanji. This is often due to deep cultural and historical ties. Especially for places in the Chinese-speaking world, Japanese tends to use kanji that carry recognizable meanings.
The term “香港” originates from the Cantonese pronunciation “Heung Gong”. In Japanese, this is adapted using on’yomi (Chinese-derived readings) as “Hong Kong”. Strictly speaking, the on’yomi of the characters is “kōkō”, but it naturally evolved into “Hong Kong” to better match both Japanese phonetic patterns and the original Cantonese sound.
Here is a breakdown of the meaning and pronunciation of each character:
| Kanji | On’yomi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 香 | kō | Fragrance, pleasant smell |
| 港 | kō | Port, harbor |
The meanings and sounds of the characters align well, making the term both semantically meaningful and phonetically natural in Japanese. Thus, the term “香港” gained acceptance not just because of its sound, but also due to its intuitive visual representation.
On’yomi vs. Kun’yomi in Japanese
Kanji in Japanese have two main readings: on’yomi (from Chinese) and kun’yomi (native Japanese). On’yomi is commonly used in compound words and proper nouns, while kun’yomi conveys the native meaning of individual words.
In geographical names, on’yomi is typically used, especially when the kanji are of Chinese origin. “Hong Kong” uses the on’yomi of 香 (kō) and 港 (kō), forming “kōkō”, which then evolved phonetically into “Hong Kong”.
Let’s compare this to other Chinese city names:
| City | Kanji | On’yomi | Actual Japanese Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | 上海 | jōkai | Shanhai |
| Beijing | 北京 | hokkei | Pekin |
| Nanjing | 南京 | nankin | Nankin |
| Hong Kong | 香港 | kōkō | Honkon |
In some cases, the actual pronunciation diverges from the on’yomi, but the principle of using Chinese-derived readings remains. This balance of recognizability and familiarity is a hallmark of Japanese writing.
The Influence of Cantonese and Cultural Contact
The Japanese pronunciation “Hong Kong” comes from the Cantonese “Heung Gong”, not the Mandarin “Xianggang”. This reflects Japan’s historical and cultural contact with the Cantonese-speaking region of Hong Kong.
During the late 20th century, Hong Kong cinema, trade, and tourism were booming in Japan. As a result, Cantonese pronunciation became deeply familiar to Japanese speakers, reinforcing the usage of a name that closely resembles Cantonese phonetics.
| Language | Written As | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 香港 | Hong Kong |
| Cantonese | 香港 | Heung Gong |
| Mandarin | 香港 | Xianggang |
This table shows that Japanese pronunciation is much closer to Cantonese, demonstrating the cultural influence behind the choice of reading.
How Japanese Represents Foreign Place Names
In Japanese, foreign place names are written using kanji, katakana, or hiragana, depending on the region’s cultural ties and how the name is used in Japanese society.
| Writing System | Examples | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Kanji | 香港, 北京, 台湾 | Places with historical and cultural ties to Japan |
| Katakana | パリ (Paris), ロンドン (London) | Used for non-Chinese regions, focused on phonetics |
| Hiragana | Rarely used | Limited to children’s materials or special cases |
Since Hong Kong shares a long-standing historical connection with Japan and its characters are semantically understandable, the use of kanji became a natural and intuitive choice.
Japanese Tendency to Balance Meaning and Sound
Japanese writing often aims to preserve both phonetic accuracy and semantic clarity. “香港” literally means “Fragrant Harbor”, which not only reflects the original meaning but also evokes a positive, vivid image.
Other kanji-based names follow a similar pattern:
| City | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | 台湾 | Taiwan | 台 = plateau, 湾 = bay |
| Korea | 韓国 | Kankoku | 韓 = Korea, 国 = nation |
| Hong Kong | 香港 | Honkon | 香 = fragrance, 港 = harbor |
This structure makes it easy for Japanese readers to grasp the concept and pronunciation simultaneously, preserving both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Conclusion
The reason Hong Kong is written as 香港 in Japanese is a result of multiple overlapping factors: the usage of on’yomi, recognizable kanji meanings, and strong cultural ties between Japan and the Cantonese-speaking region. The sound of “Hong Kong” fits both Japanese phonology and the original pronunciation, making it a comfortable and familiar expression.
Japanese writing, especially in naming foreign places, reflects a linguistic strategy that values both meaning and sound. “香港” exemplifies this balance, with its elegant composition and intuitive pronunciation.
By understanding such linguistic patterns, learners can appreciate the depth of kanji culture and how language expresses both history and identity. This illustrates that writing is more than phonetics—it is a reflection of cultural and historical context.
