2007-02-12 23:19:07 · 6 answers · asked by mujaly_rashad 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Although Japan in Japanese is "Nihon" or "Nippon" pronounced "nee-hone" and "nee-*pon" respectively. The name Japan is based on the Chinese pronunciation of the same two characters 日(ri) which means sun 本(ben) which means source or origin. Hence "Land of the Rising sun"
The name was given to Japan by China, because it is East of China and therefore where the sun rises from. In Chinese it is pronounced "Riben" and if pronounced in Cantonese "Jatbun" is much closer.
2007-02-13 02:54:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
What Does Japan Mean
2016-10-30 04:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by bugayong 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The name Japan (Nippon) consists of 2 characters. The first means "Sun" and the second means "Origin", i.e. "Sun's origin". The official name of Japan is Nippon-koku. Koku is a third character which means "Country" or "Land". Hence, the official name of Japan means "Sun-origin Land", i.e. "Land of the rising sun", which is a poetic way of putting ot.
2007-02-12 23:41:42 · answer #3 · answered by Karpy 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means "Land of where the sun comes out"
2007-02-12 23:31:19 · answer #4 · answered by mayelaine2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Japan" is a worn-down version of Japanese "Nihon" or "Nippon", meaning "(land of the) Rising Sun".
2007-02-12 23:23:09 · answer #5 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
either "sun book"
or "sun root"
2007-02-13 02:12:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋