Langimage
English

Japanese

|Jap/a/nese|

A1

/ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/

related to Japan

Etymology
Etymology Information

'Japanese' originates from the English word 'Japan,' which is derived from the Portuguese 'Japão,' ultimately from the Chinese '日本' (Rìběn), meaning 'origin of the sun.'

Historical Evolution

'Japanese' evolved from the earlier English term 'Japanish,' which was used in the 16th century.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to anything related to Japan, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a person from Japan or of Japanese descent.

She is a Japanese living in New York.

Synonyms

Noun 2

the language spoken in Japan.

He is learning Japanese at school.

Adjective 1

relating to Japan, its people, or their language.

Japanese culture is rich and diverse.

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35