Japanese exonyms

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Japanese exonyms are the names of places in the Japanese language that differ from the name given in the place's dominant language.

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While Japanese names of places that are not derived from the Chinese language generally tend to represent the endonym or the English exonym as phonetically accurately as possible, the Japanese terms for some place names are obscured, either because the name was borrowed from another language or because of some other obscure etymology, such as referring to England (more specifically the United Kingdom) as イギリス (Igirisu), which is based on the Portuguese term for "English", Inglês. [1] Exonyms for cities outside of the East Asian cultural sphere tend to be more phonetically accurate to their endonyms than the English exonyms if the endonym is significantly different from the English exonym.

The names for nations and cities that existed before major Japanese orthographic reforms in the Meiji era usually have ateji, or kanji characters used solely to represent pronunciation. However, the use of ateji today has become far less common, as katakana has largely taken over the role of phonetically representing words of non-Sino-Japanese origin. As significant differences exist between the pronunciations of the Chinese and Japanese languages, many of the ateji terms for the exonyms of foreign, non-Sinitic terms are unrecognizable in Chinese, and likewise, since some of the ateji terms derived from Chinese, the aforementioned terms do not match the Japanese on or kun readings for the pronunciation of the given kanji.

Legend
Archaic, obsolete
Rare
Does not exist
(Red x.svg)Does not exist, but kept on list for linguistic interest, or to prevent common errors.

Afghanistan

Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan (Afuganisutan (アフガニスタン))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Kabul Kabūru (カブール)Kābol (کابل‎)Dari
Kābəl (کابل‎)Pashto

Algeria

Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria (Arujeria (アルジェリア))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Algiers Aruje (アルジェ)Dzayer (ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻ)Kabyle
Al-jazāʾir (الجزائر‎)Arabic
Constantine Konsutantīnu (コンスタンティーヌ)Kasantina (ⵇⵙⴻⵏⵟⵉⵏⴰ)Kabyle
Qusanṭīna (قُسَنْطِينَة)Arabic
Oran Oran (オラン)Wehran (ⵡⴻⵂⵔⴰⵏ)Kabyle
Wahrān (وَهْرَان)Arabic

Argentina

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina (Aruzenchin (アルゼンチン, 亜爾然丁))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Buenos AiresBuenosu Airesu (ブエノスアイレス)

Bushi (ブ市)

Buenos AiresSpanishAlso Bushi (ブ市).

Australia

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (Ōsutoraria (オーストラリア), Gōshū (豪州))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Coral Sea Kōraru Shī (コーラル・シー)
Sangokai (珊瑚海)
Coral SeaEnglishTranslation from English
Thursday Island Sāzudē Airando (サーズデー・アイランド)
Mokuyōtō (木曜島)
Thursday IslandEnglishTranslation from English

Austria

Flag of Austria.svg  Austria (Ōsutoria (オーストリア, 墺太利))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Vienna Wīn (ウィーン)WienGermanBased on German spelling

Brazil

Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil (Burajiru (ブラジル, 伯剌西爾))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Brasília Burajiria (ブラジリア)BrasíliaPortuguese
Curitiba Kurichiba (クリチバ)CuritibaPortuguese
Rio de Janeiro Riodejaneiro (リオデジャネイロ)Rio de JaneiroPortuguese
São Paulo Sanpauro (サンパウロ)São PauloPortuguese

Cambodia

Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia (Kambojia (カンボジア, 柬埔寨))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Phnom Penh Punonpen (プノンペン)Phnom Penh (ភ្នំពេញ)Khmer
Siem Reap Shemuriappu (シェムリアップ)Siĕm-réap (សៀមរាប)Khmer
Sihanoukville Shianūkubiru (シアヌークビル)Krong Preah Sihanouk (ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ)KhmerBased on English

Chile

Flag of Chile.svg  Chile (Chiri (チリ, 智利)), (Chirii (チリー)), (Chika (智加))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Santiago Metropolitan RegionShūto-shū (首都州)Región Metropolitana de SantiagoSpanish

China

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (Chūgoku (中国))
English nameJapanese name(s)EndonymNotes
Not On'yomiOn'yomiNameLanguage
Beijing Pekin (北京)(Red x.svgHokkyō)BěijīngMandarinTranscription based on Chinese postal romanization
Chengdu Chendu (成都)SeitoChéngdūMandarinTranscription based on Mandarin pronunciation
Changchun Chanchun (長春)ChōshunChángchūn (长春)Mandarin
Chongqing Chonchin (重慶)JūkeiChóngqìng (重庆)Mandarin
Mount Everest Eberesuto (エベレスト)
Everesuto (エヴェレスト)
Everest EnglishTranscriptions based on English
Chomoranma (チョモランマ)Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng (珠穆朗瑪峰)ChineseTranscriptions based on Tibetan
Chomolungma (ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ)Tibetan
Sagarumāta (サガルマータ)
Sagaramātā (サガラマーター)
Sagaramāthā (सगरमाथा)NepaliTranscriptions based on Nepali
Dalian Dāryen (大連)DairenDàlián (大连)Mandarin
Guangdong Kanton (広東)(Red x.svgKōtō)Guǎngdōng (广东)MandarinTranscription based on historical English exonym
Gwong2dung1Cantonese
Guangzhou Kowanchou (広州)KōshūGuǎngzhōu (广州)Mandarin
Gwong2zau1Cantonese
Guilin Guirin (桂林)KeirinGuìlínMandarin
GveilinzZhuang
Han River (Hubei) Kankō (漢江)Hàn Jiāng (汉江)Mandarin
Kansui (漢水)Hàn Shǔi (汉水)Mandarin
Harbin Harubin (ハルビン) [2]
Harupin (ハルピン) [2]
(哈爾浜 [2] , 哈爾賓 [2] }
Hā'ěrbīn (哈尔滨)Mandarin
Kharbin (Харбин) [2] Russian
Halbin (ᡥᠠᠯᠪᡳᠨ)Manchu
Hohhot Fufuhoto (フフホト)
Hohehota (ホーへホタ)
Hūhéhàotè (呼和浩特)Mandarin
Kökekhota (ᠬᠥᠬᠡᠬᠣᠲᠠ)Mongolian
Hong Kong Honkon (香港)(Red x.svgKōkō)Hoeng1gong2CantoneseTranscription based on English exonym
Macau Makao (マカオ)Ōmon (澳門)Ou3mun2CantoneseMakao based on Portuguese exonym
Nanjing Nankin (南京)(Red x.svgNankyō)NánjīngMandarinTranscription based on Chinese postal romanization
Ningxia Ninshā (寧夏)NeikaNíngxià (宁夏)Mandarin
Qingdao Chintao (青島)(Red x.svgSeitō)Qīngdǎo (青岛)MandarinNot to be confused with Aoshima, two different islands in Japan spelled with the same kanji
Shaanxi (Red x.svgShānshī)Sensei (陝西)Shǎnxī (陕西)MandarinAs the transcriptions for Shanxi and Shaanxi are indistinguishable in Japanese (since the only way to distinguish the two in Mandarin is the tone of the first syllable), it is more common to use the on-yomi as they are distinguishable from each other
Shanghai Shanhai (上海)
Zanhe (ザンへー)[ citation needed ]
(Red x.svgJōkai)ShànghǎiMandarin
Zaan22 he44Wu
Shanxi (Red x.svgShanshī)Sansei (山西)ShānxīMandarinAs the transcriptions for Shanxi and Shaanxi are indistinguishable in Japanese (since the only way to distinguish the two in Mandarin is the tone of the first syllable), it is more common to use the on-yomi as they are distinguishable from each other
Shenzhen Shenchen (シェンチェン)Shinsen (深圳, 深セン)ShēnzhènMandarin
Tai Po District (Hong Kong)Taipō (大埔)TaihoDaai6bou3CantoneseBased on Cantonese pronunciation
Tianjin Tenchin (天津)TenshinTiānjīnMandarinNot to be confused with native Japanese word amatsu, written using the same kanji. [3]
Tap Mun (Hong Kong)Tapumunchau (塔門洲)TōmonshūTaap mùhn JāuCantoneseTranscription based on Cantonese pronunciation
Tibet Chibetto (チベット)Seizō (西蔵)Xīzàng (西藏)MandarinTranscription based on English exonym Tibet
Bodo (ボド)Bod (བོད)Tibetan
Ürümqi Urumuchi (烏魯木斉)(Red x.svg)Wūlǔmùqí (乌鲁木齐)MandarinTranscription based on Mandarin or Uyghur pronunciation
Ürümçi (ئۈرۈمچى)Uyghur
Xiamen Amoi (アモイ, 厦門, 廈門)Ē-mûiHokkienBased on historical English exonym Amoy
ShāmenXiàmén (厦门)MandarinBased on Mandarin pronunciation
Xi'an Shīan (西安)SeianXī'ānMandarin
Xinjiang Shinchan (新疆)ShinkyōXīnjiāngMandarin
Yangtze Chan-gawa (チャン川)Chōkō (長江) [4] Cháng Jiāng (长江)Mandarin
Yōsukō (揚子江) [5]
(Red x.svgYōshikō)
Yángzǐ Jiāng (扬子江)Mandarin

For place names derived from the Chinese language, Japanese typically uses the kanji equivalents of the Chinese characters that make up their respective endonyms, albeit with a Sino-Japanese pronunciation called on readings. Some place names, however, also have an approximate pronunciation (or transcription) of a historical English exonym if the area is internationally well-known, such as Beijing and Hong Kong, and such transcriptions tend to be more common than the on-yomi or the Mandarin transcriptions. Most place names derived from Mandarin also have a Japanese transcription of the Mandarin pronunciation.

One detail to be noted, however, is that for the names of certain districts or areas in Hong Kong and Macau, the pronunciations of the Japanese transcriptions typically try to imitate the Cantonese pronunciation instead of the Mandarin pronunciation.

The Chinese characters for the endonyms above are simplified Chinese characters and will only appear in the table above if they differ from the kanji shinjitai (the current set of Japanese kanji). Most transcriptions above can be written either in kanji or katakana.

Czech Republic

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic (Cheko (チェコ))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Pilsen Puruzeni (プルゼニ)PlzeňCzech
Prague Puraha (プラハ)
Purāgu (プラーグ)
Puraggu (プラッグ)
PrahaCzech

Denmark

Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark (Denmāku (デンマーク, 丁抹))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Billund Birun (ビルン)BillundDanish
Copenhagen Kopenhāgen (コペンハーゲン)KøbenhavnDanishTranscription based on English Copenhagen [6]
Kubunhaun (クブンハウン)

Egypt

Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (Ejiputo (エジプト, 埃及))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Alexandria Arekusandoria (アレクサンドリア)al-ʾIskandariyya (الإسكندرية‎)Standard Arabic
Eskendereyya (اسكندرية‎)Egyptian Arabic
Cairo Kairo (カイロ)al-Qāhirah (القاهرة)Standard Arabic
Maṣr (مَصر)Egyptian Arabic
Nile Nairu-gawa (ナイル川)an-Nil (النيل)Standard Arabic
en-Nīl (النيل)Egyptian Arabic

Germany

Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (Doitsu (ドイツ, 独逸))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Berlin Berurin (ベルリン)BerlinGerman
Cologne Kerun (ケルン)KölnGerman
Dresden Doresuden (ドレスデン)DresdenGerman
Frankfurt Furankufuruto (フランクフルト)Frankfurt am MainGerman
Hamburg Hanburuku (ハンブルク)HamburgGerman
Hanover Hanōbā (ハノーバー)

Hanōfā (ハノーファー)

HannoverGerman
Munich Myunhen (ミュンヘン)MünchenGerman

Greece

Flag of Greece.svg  Greece (Girisha (ギリシャ, 希臘))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Athens Atene (アテネ)

Atēnai (アテーナイ)

Athína (Αθήνα)Greek
Corinth Korinto (コリント)
Korintosu (コリントス)
Kórinthos (Κόρινθος)Greek
Crete Kureta (クレタ)Kríti (Κρήτη)Greek
Marathon Marason (マラソン)

Maraton (マラトン)

Marathónios (Μαραθώνιος)GreekBased on English exonym
Olympia Orinpia (オリンピア)Olympía (Ολυμπία)Greek
Filippoi Firippi (フィリッピ)Fílippi (Φίλιπποι)Greek
Santorini Santorīni (サントリーニ)Thíra (Θήρα)Greek
Sparta Suparuta (スパルタ)Spárti (Σπάρτη)GreekBased on English
Thebes Tēbe (テーベ)

Tēbai (テーバイ)

Thíva (Θήβα)Greek
Thessalonica Tessaroniki (テッサロニキ)Thessaloníki (Θεσσαλονίκη)Greek

Iceland

Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland (Aisurando (アイスランド, 愛斯蘭, 氷州), Hyōtō (氷島))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Reykjavik Reikyabiku (レイキャビク)
Reikyavīku (レイキャウィーク)
ReykjavíkIcelandic

India

Flag of India.svg  India (Indo (インド, 印度))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Bangalore Bangarōru (バンガロール)Baṅgalūru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು)Kannada
Chennai Chennai (チェンナイ)Ceṉṉai (சென்னை)Tamil
Ganges Ganjisu (ガンジス)Gaṅgā (गंगा)HindiBased on English exonym
Hyderabad Haiderabādo (ハイデラバード)Haidarābādu (హైదరాబాదు)Telugu
Kolkata Korukata (コルカタ)Kôlkata (কলকাতা)Bengali
Mumbai Munbai (ムンバイ)Mumbaī (मुंबई)Marathi
New Delhi Nyūderī (ニューデリー)Naī Dillī (नई दिल्ली)HindiBased on English exonym

Since India is home to many different languages and English is an official language in the country, Japanese exonyms are largely based on the English exonyms. The English exonyms are also familiar to many Indians.

Indonesia

Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia (Indoneshia (インドネシア, 印度尼西亜))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Borneo Karimantan-tou (カリマンタン島)
Boruneo-tou (ボルネオ島)
KalimantanIndonesian

Ireland

Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland (Airurando (アイルランド, 愛蘭))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Dublin Daburin (ダブリン)Baile Átha CliathIrish
DublinEnglish

Israel

Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Isuraeru (イスラエル, 以色列)
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Dead Sea Shikai (死海) [7] Yam ha-Melah (ים המלח)HebrewTranslation of "Dead Sea"
Jerusalem Erusaremu (エルサレム)Yerushaláyim (ירושלים)Hebrew
Nazareth Nazare (ナザレ)Natsrat (נצרת)Hebrew

Italy

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy (Itaria (イタリア, 伊太利亜, 伊太利))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Florence Firentse (フィレンツェ)
Furōrensu (フローレンス)
FirenzeItalianFurōrensu based on English exonym
Venice Venetsia (ヴェネツィア)
Benetsia (ベネツィア)
Benechia (ベネチア)
Benisu (ベニス)
Venisu (ヴェニス)
VeneziaItalianBenisu/Venisu from English work of Shakespeare

Japanese exonyms for Italian place names are generally based on the Italian pronunciation rather than English exonyms.

Kazakhstan

Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan (Kazafusutan (カザフスタン))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Almaty Arumatoi (アルマトイ)Almatı (Алматы)Kazakh
Astana Asutana (アスタナ)Astana (Астана)Kazakh

Laos

Flag of Laos.svg  Laos (Raosu (ラオス, 羅宇, 老檛))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Luang Prabang Ruanpabān (ルアンパバーン)Luangphabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ, ຫຼວງພະບາງ)LaoExonym based on actual Lao pronunciation rather than spelling
Vientiane Bienchan (ビエンチャン)Viangchan (ວຽງຈັນ)LaoExonym based on English pronunciation

Liechtenstein

Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein (Rihitenshutain (リヒテンシュタイン))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Vaduz Fadūtsu (ファドゥーツ)VaduzGerman

Malaysia

Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia Marēshia (マレーシア, 馬来西亜)
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Borneo Boruneo (ボルネオ)BorneoMalay
Johor Bahru Johōrubaru (ジョホールバル)Johor BahruMalay
Kuala Lumpur Kuararunpūru (クアラルンプール)Kuala LumpurMalay
Penang Penan (ペナン)
Tōjō-tō (東条島) (Former)
Pulau PinangMalay
Putrajaya Putorajaya (プトラジャヤ)PutrajayaMalay

Mexico

Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico (Mekishiko (メキシコ, 墨西哥))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Ciudad Juárez Shiudā Fuaresu (シウダー・フアレス))Ciudad JuárezSpanish
Cancún Kankun (カンクン)CancúnSpanish
Mexico City Mekishikoshiti (メキシコシティ)Ciudad de MéxicoSpanishBased on the English exonym
Monterrey Monterei (モンテレイ)MonterreySpanish
Oaxaca Oahaka (オアハカ)OaxacaSpanish
Puebla Puebura (プエブラ)PueblaSpanish
Puerto Vallarta Puerutobajaruta (プエルトバジャルタ)Puerto VallartaSpanish
Tijuana Tifuana (ティフアナ)
Tiwana (ティワナ)
TijuanaSpanishTiwana from English pronunciation
Veracruz Berakurusu (ベラクルス)VeracruzSpanish

Myanmar

Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar (Myanmā (ミャンマー), (Biruma, †Menden (†緬甸)) [8] )
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Bagan Bagan (バガン)Pu.gam (ပုဂံ)Burmese
Naypyidaw Nepidō (ネピドー)Ne-pranytau (နေပြည်တော်)Burmese
Yangon Yangon (ヤンゴン)Rankun (ရန်ကုန်)Burmese

Netherlands

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands (Oranda (オランダ, 阿蘭陀, 和蘭))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Amsterdam Amusuterudamu (アムステルダム)AmsterdamDutch
The Hague Den Hāgu (デン・ハーグ)
Hāgu (ハーグ)
Den HaagDutch
Rotterdam Rotterudamu (ロッテルダム)RotterdamDutch

New Zealand

Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (Nyūjīrando (ニュージーランド))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
North Island Hokutō (北島)North IslandEnglishTranslation from English
South Island Nantō (南島)South IslandEnglishTranslation from English

North Korea

Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea (Kita-Chōsen (北朝鮮))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
Not on-yomiOn-yomiNameLanguage
Kaesong Keson (開城)KaijōKaesŏng (개성)Korean
Paektu Mountain Pekuto-san (白頭山) [9] Hakutōsan (白頭山) [9]
Chōhakusan (長白山) [9]
Paekdusan (백두산)KoreanOn'yomi transcriptions based on Korean and Mandarin Chinese Changbai respectively.
Pyongyang Pyon'yan (平壌)HeijōP'yŏngyang (평양)Korean
Sinuiju Shiniju (新義州)ShingishūSinŭiju (신의주)Korean
Tumen River Tomankan (豆満江)TōmankōDuman'gang (두만강)Korean
Yalu River Ōryokukō, Ōryokkō (鴨緑江)Amrokkang (압록강)Korean

Norway

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway (Noruwē (ノルウェー, 諾威))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Oslo Osuro (オスロ)OsloNorwegian

Pakistan

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan (Pakisutan (パキスタン, 巴基斯坦)
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Islamabad Isuramabādo (イスラマバード)Islāmābād (اسلام آباد)Urdu
Karachi Karachi (カラチ)Karācī (کراچی‎)Urdu
Lahore Rahōru (ラホール)Lāhaur (لاہور)Urdu

Philippines

Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines

(Firipin (フィリピン, 比律賓), Hitō (比島))

English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Albay Arubai (アルバイ)AlbayBikol
Bangsamoro Bansamoro (バンサモロ)BangsamoroMalay
Camarines Norte Kita Kamarinesu (北カマリネス)Camarines NorteSpanish
Camarines Sur Minami Kamarinesu (南カマリネス)Camarines SurSpanish
Catanduanes Katanduanesu (カタンドゥアネス)CatanduanesBikol, Spanish
Legazpi Regasupi (レガスピ)LegazpiSpanish, Bikol
Manila Manira (マニラ, 馬尼剌†)MaynilaTagalogBased on English exonym
Masbate Masubate (マスバテ)MasbateBikol
Sorsogon Sorusogon (ソルソゴン)SorsogonBikol

Poland

Flag of Poland.svg  Poland (Pо̄rando (ポーランド, 波蘭))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Warsaw Warushawa (ワルシャワ)WarszawaPolish
Warusо̄ (ワルソー)Transcription based on English Warsaw

Portugal

Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal (Porutogaru (ポルトガル, 葡萄牙))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Lisbon Risubon (リスボン)LisboaPortugueseBased on English exonym
Porto Poruto (ポルト)PortoPortugueseBased on English exonym

Russia

Flag of Russia.svg  Russia (Roshia (ロシア, 露西亜), Rokoku (露国))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Grozny Gurozunui (グロズヌイ)Groznyj (Грозный)Russian
Sölƶa-Ġala (Соьлжа-ГӀала)Chechen
Korsakov Ōtomari (大泊)Korsakov (Корса́ков)Russian
Kurilsk Shana-mura (紗那村)Kurilsk (Кури́льск)Russian
Moscow Mosukuwa (モスクワ)Moskva (Москва)Russian
Sakhalin Karafuto (樺太)Сахалин (Sakhalin)Russian
Siberia Shiberia (シベリア, 西比利亜,† 西伯利亜†)Sibir' (Сибирь)Russian
Vladivostok Urajiosutoku (ウラジオストク)Vladivostok (Владивосток)Russian
Yekaterinburg Ekaterinburuku (エカテリンブルク)Ekaterinburg (Екатеринбург)Russian
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Toyohara (豊原)Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Южно-Сахалинск)Russian

Saudi Arabia

Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (Saujiarabia (サウジアラビア))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Mecca Mekka (メッカ)Makkah (مكة)Arabic
Medina Medina (メディナ)Madinah (مدينة)Arabic
Riyadh Riyado (リヤド)Riyadh (رياض)Arabic

South Africa

Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa (Minami Afurika (南アフリカ), Nan'a (南亜))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Cape of Good Hope Kibōhō (喜望峰)Cape of Good HopeEnglishTranslation of Cape of Hope
Kaap die Goeie HoopAfrikaans
Johannesburg Yohanesuburugu (ヨハネスブルグ)JohannesburgAfrikaansBased on Afrikaans pronunciation

South Korea

Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (Kankoku (韓国))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
Not on-yomiOn-yomi
Busan Pusan (釜山)FuzanBusan (부산)
Gangnam Kan'namu (江南)KōnanGangnam (강남)
Han River (Korea) Hangan (漢江)KankōHangang (한강)
Incheon Inchon (仁川)JinsenIncheon (인천)
Itaewon Itewon (梨泰院)Ritai'inItaewon (이태원)
Jeju Cheju (済州)SaishūJeju (제주)
Pyeongchang Pyonchan (平昌)HeishōPyeongchang (평창)
Seoul Souru (ソウル)Keijō (京城)Seoul (서울)Souru usually only written in katakana

While most South Korean place names are derived from words in the Chinese language, Japanese can refer to a Korean place name using Japanese on-yomi (Jeju (濟州) is Saishū (さいしゅう) in Japanese) or a pronunciation that imitates the Korean endonym name as closely as possible (Itaewon (梨泰院) is Itewon (イテウォン) or Ritai'in (りたいいん) in Japanese). Many place names in Korea have at least two of the pronunciations, the first being based on the Japanese on-yomi or kun-yomi and the second being based on the Korean endonym, with the latter being made so that the Japanese could navigate and ask for directions more clearly to native Koreans. Korean-based pronunciations are usually written in katakana.

Spain

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (Supein (スペイン, 西班牙))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Barcelona Baruserona (バルセロナ)BarcelonaSpanish
Catalan
Basque Country Basuku Chihō (バスク地方)País VascoSpanish
Euskal HerriaBasque
Madrid Madorīdo (マドリード)
Madoriddo (マドリッド)
MadridSpanish
Granada Guranada (グラナダ)GranadaSpanish
Seville Sebiria (セビリア)SevillaSpanish
Valencia Barenshia (バレンシア)ValenciaSpanish

Sweden

Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden (Suwēden (スウェーデン, 瑞典))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Stockholm Sutokkuhorumu (ストックホルム)StockholmSwedish

Switzerland

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland (Suisu (スイス, 瑞西))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Bern Berun (ベルン)BernGerman
Geneva Junēbu (ジュネーヴ)GenèveFrench
Lausanne Rōzannu (ローザンヌ)LausanneFrench
Zürich Chūrihhi (チューリッヒ)ZürichGerman

Taiwan

Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan (Taiwan (台湾))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
Non on-yomiOn-yomiNameLanguage
Kaohsiung Takao (高雄) [10]
Kaoshun [10]
(Kōyū)GāoxióngMandarinTakao is based on the Siraya name for the city. [11] [ better source needed ]
Ko-hiôngTaiwanese Hokkien
Kô-hiùngHakka
Kinmen
Quemoy
Jinmen (金門)KinmonJīnménMandarin
Kim-mn̂g-koānTaiwanese Hokkien
Kîm-mùn-yenHakka
Taichung Taijon (台中)
Taitson
TaichūTáizhōng (臺中)MandarinTranscriptions based on Mandarin pronunciation and Chinese postal romanization, respectively
Tâi-tiongTaiwanese Hokkien
Thòi-chûngHakka
Tainan Tainan (台南)Táinán (臺南)Mandarin
Tâi-lâmTaiwanese Hokkien
Thòi-nàmHakka
Taipei Taipei (台北)TaihokuTáiběi (臺北)MandarinTranscription based on Chinese postal romanization
Tâi-pakTaiwanese Hokkien
Thòi-petHakka
Taitung Taidon (台東)TaitōTáidōng (臺東)MandarinTranscription based on Mandarin pronunciation
Tâi-tangTaiwanese Hokkien
Thòi-tûngHakka

Similar to Chinese exonyms, Japanese can either use a transcription based on Mandarin or the Japanese on-yomi of the endonym. However, there are some Japanese place names that are unrelated to the Chinese name of the place, but are actually based on the Taiwanese aboriginal languages.

Thailand

Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand (Tai (タイ, ))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Ayutthaya Ayutaya (アユタヤ)Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (พระนครศรีอยุธยา)Thai
Bangkok Bankoku (バンコク)Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร)ThaiBased on English exonym
Chiang Mai Chenmai (チェンマイ)Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่)Thai
Chiang Rai Chenrai (チェンライ)Chiang Rai (เชียงราย)Thai
Hua Hin Hoahin (ホアヒン)Hua Hin (หัวหิน)Thai
Krabi Kurabi (クラビ)Krabi (กระบี่)Thai
Pattaya Pataya (パタヤ)Pattaya (พัทยา)Thai
Phi Phi Islands Pīpī Shotō (ピーピー諸島)Mu Ko Phi Phi (หมู่เกาะพีพี)Thai
Phuket Pūketto (プーケット)Phuket (ภูเก็ต)Thai
Sukhothai Sukōtai (スコータイ)Sukhothai (สุโขทัย)Thai

Turkey

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey (Toruko (トルコ, 土耳古))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Ankara Ankara (アンカラ)AnkaraTurkish
Cappadocia Kappadokia (カッパドキア)KapadokyaTurkishBased on English exonym [12]
Tarsus Tarususu (タルスス)TarsusTurkish
Istanbul Isutanbūru (イスタンブール)İstanbulTurkish
Izmir Izumiru (イズミル)İzmirTurkish

United Arab Emirates

Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (Arabu Shuchōkoku Renpō (アラブ首長国連邦 [13] )
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Abu Dhabi Abudabi (アブダビ) [13] Abu Dhabi (أبوظبي)Standard Arabic
Dubai Dobai (ドバイ) [13] Dubayy (دبي)Standard Arabic

United Kingdom

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom (Igirisu (イギリス, 英吉利), Egeresu (エゲレス), Eikoku (英国), Rengō Ōkoku (連合王国))
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Belfast Berufasuto (ベルファスト)BelfastEnglish
Béal FeirsteIrish
Cardiff Kādifu (カーディフ)CardiffEnglish
CaerdyddWelsh
Edinburgh Edinbara (エディンバラ)
Ejinbara (エジンバラ)
EdinburghEnglishBased on the Received Pronunciation of the name as opposed to the Scots pronunciation
Scots
Northern Ireland Kita Airurando (北アイルランド)Northern IrelandEnglish
Tuaisceart ÉireanIrish Gaelic
Norlin AirlannUlster-Scots
Oxford Okkusufōdo (オックスフォード, 牛津)OxfordEnglishKanji 牛津 is based on the Chinese name for Oxford
Wales Wēruzu (ウェールズ)WalesEnglish
CymruWelsh

United States

Flag of the United States.svg  United States (Amerika (アメリカ, 亜米利加), [14] Beikoku (米国), [15] Gasshūkoku (合衆国), [16] abbreviation:Bei () [15] )
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
California Kariforunia (カリフォルニア)
Kashū (加州)
CaliforniaEnglish
Golden Gate Bridge Gōruden Gēto Burijji (ゴールデン・ゲート・ブリッジ)
Kinmon-kyō (金門橋)
Golden Gate BridgeEnglishKimmonkyou is a translation of "Golden Gate Bridge"
Hollywood Hariuddo (ハリウッド)
Shōrin (聖林)
HollywoodEnglishShōrin is a translation of "Holy Wood"
Los Angeles Rosanzerusu (ロサンゼルス)
Rafu (羅府)
Los AngelesEnglishRafu is an abbreviation adapted from a now deprecated Chinese transcription for Los Angeles. [17]
New York City Nyūyōku (ニューヨーク)New York CityEnglish
Pearl Harbor Pāru Hābā (パール・ハーバー)
Shinjuwan (真珠湾)
Pearl HarborEnglishShinju-wan is a translation of "Pearl Harbor"
San Francisco Sanfuranshisuko (サンフランシスコ)
Sōkō (桑港)
San FranciscoEnglish
Washington, D.C. Washinton Dīshī (ワシントンD.C.)
Kafu (華府)
Washington, DCEnglish

Vietnam

Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Betonamu (ベトナム, 越南)
English nameJapanese nameEndonymNotes
NameLanguage
Can Tho Kantō (カントー)Cần Thơ (芹苴)Vietnamese
Dalat Daratto (ダラット)Đà Lạt (多樂)Vietnamese
Danang Danan (ダナン) [18] Đà Nẵng (沱㶞)Vietnamese
Dien Bien Phu Dienbienfū (ディエンビエンフー)Điện Biên Phủ (奠邊府)Vietnamese
Hoi An Hoian (ホイアン)Hội An (會安)Vietnamese
Haiphong Haifon (ハイフォン)Hải Phòng (海防)Vietnamese
Ha Long Bay Haron-wan (ハロン湾)Vịnh Hạ Long (泳下龍)Vietnamese
Hanoi Hanoi (ハノイ)Hà Nội (河內)Vietnamese
Hue Fue (フエ)Huế ()Vietnamese
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon
Hōchimin-shi (ホーチミン市)Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (城庯胡志明)Vietnamese
Saigon (サイゴン) [19] Sài Gòn (柴棍)Vietnamese
Nha Trang Nyachan (ニャチャン)Nha Trang (芽莊)Vietnamese

See also

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References

  1. "Why do the Japanese call the UK 'Igirisu'?". RocketNews24. 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Usage examples:Nakanishi, Ryotaro (2022). 20世紀前半における日本人作成のハルビン案内書と市街地図 [City maps and guidebooks Harbin made by japanese in the first half of the 20th century](PDF). Departmental bulletin paper – History and anthropology. 50 (2022–02). Japan: University of Tsukuba: 7. hdl: 2241/0002003191 . ISSN   0385-4795.
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  18. 在ベトナム日本国大使館・総領事館 [Embassy and Consulate-General of Japan in Vietnam]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). 2020-01-20. Da Nang. Retrieved 2021-09-05. 在ダナン領事事務所 Da Nang Consular Office of Japan
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