this is a puzzle i thought about while talking to my girlfriend (who is from japan). In japanese, america is america, but how did nihon become japan in the english language? I also noticed other countries were like this as well. could anyon shed any light on why this is? thanks!!
I remember reading somewhere that Japan comes from the Chinese word for “Japan”. Hopefully someone who knows more will help out.
Well, the Japanese name for Japan (which can be pronounced either Nihon or Nippon) is composed of the kanji (Chinese characters, also used in Japanese) for “sun” and “root/source”, since, from the Chinese mainland, the sun rose from the direction of Japan. Thus Japan is sometimes referred to as “the land of the rising sun”.
yeah i know that stuff, but you didn’t answer my question…why do english speaking people call it “japan” and not nihon?
This topic was discussed a couple of weeks ago, so I’ll close this thread and direct further comment to the other: Country names, their origins, and a minor UN question
bibliophage
moderator GQ
and why Brazil instead of Brasil?