日本

• Reading: にほん
• Romaji: nihon
• Kanji breakdown: 日 (ni/nichi) — sun, day; 本 (hon) — origin, root, book
• Pronunciation: /ni.hoɴ/

Meaning

Japan. The name of the country in Japanese.

A noun meaning Japan. It has two common readings: にほん (Nihon) and にっぽん (Nippon). にほん is used in everyday conversation, while にっぽん is more formal and used on currency, stamps, and in sports cheering. The word literally means 'origin of the sun,' reflecting Japan's location east of the Asian continent.

Examples

1. 日本の食べ物はおいしいです。 Japanese food is delicious.
2. 日本に来てから三年になります。 It's been three years since I came to Japan.
3. 日本は四つの大きい島があります。 Japan has four large islands.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, culture, daily conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The name means 'origin of the sun' (日 sun + 本 origin/root). China referred to Japan by this name because it lay to the east, where the sun rises.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal