Foreign country kanji

February 28, 2016 TAKA 1 Comment

Foreign countries’ names letters

In Japan people use Katakana, in China people use directly alphabet sometimes, but both countries have Kanji writings of foreign countries, and which are use mainly.

For example,

America

is 亜米利加(a me ri ka) or 米国(bei koku)　in Japan,

米 is come from　亜米利加. 米 means rice, but it’s no relation with broad California rice fields.

These Kanji letter calling is mainly used some formal written situation.

Aside from it, You also look in short expression and adjectives.

Just 米　is meaning U.S.  And 英語(Ei go) means (English Language)

In Conversation or casual written situation, they use Katakana way instead of Kanji.

(Katakana are アメリカ(A me ri ca), these letters.)

In China, America is called 美国(Mei Guo)

It means 美(Beautiful) 国(Country).

In adjective using way, just  put 的(de) after the country names.

美国的(Mei guo de)　this means American something.

So, Japanese Kanji country name by sound(by hearing of old Japanese ears),

On the other hand, in China, they call the names by sound or by their featuring images.

The former way is used to very famous countries.(I think.)

Today’s Examples.

France is

In Japan、仏蘭西 (Fu ran su)or 仏（Futsu）, 仏 means Buddha, but in this situation, just for pronunciation.

In China, 法国(Fa Guo) 法 means law or rules.

Germany is

In　Japan、独逸(Do i tsu)or 独(Doku), 独 means Single, but it’s also no meaning in Japanese expression.

The 独逸 is come from Deutschland in German way.

In China, 徳国(De Guo)　徳 means moral.

Italy is

In Japan, 伊太利亜(I ta li a)or 伊(Yi), Yep same as previous.

In China,意太利(Yi da li) this is pronunciation way pattern.

Spain is

In Japan, 西班牙 (Su pe in)、西(Nishi)

In China,西班牙(Xi ban ya)

Anyway, 西 is west.

Russia is

In Japan,　露西亜（Ro si a） ,露（Ro）

In China,　俄罗斯(E luo si)

Australia is

In Japan, 濠太剌利（Very formal and rarely used）、

豪（gou, but this one letter is popular expression）, Sometimes 豪州(Gou Shu) means Australia

(I suppose the former one was too difficult to write.)

In China,  澳大利亚(Ao da li ya)

United Kingdom is irregular pattern.

英国(Ei Koku in Japanese way, Yin Guo in Chinese way)

Both country don’t think separate U.K. from England.

However, 英国 is or was originally expression of England.
Most Japanese 英国(ei koku) is imagine U.K. and イングランド(Pronounced “Ingrando”) is England..

Thank you 🙂