日本

See also: 𪰐

Chinese

	day; sun; date day; sun; date; day of the month; Japan (abbrev.)	origin
simp. and trad. (日本)	日	本
anagram	本日
Literally: “the sun's origin; where the sun originates”.

Wikipedia has articles on:

日本 (消歧義) / 日本 (消歧义) (Chinese)
日本 (Cantonese)
日本 (Classical Chinese)
日本 (Gan)
日本 (Hakka)
日本 (Eastern Min)
日本 (Min Nan)
日本 (Wu)

Etymology

From 日 (“sun”) +‎ 本 (“origin, root”).

More information

As a state name, the term likely grew from a 7th‑century self‑conception in state letters and gradually replaced 倭 in external usage. The earliest known epigraphic use of 日本 appears in 678, but in a highly literary sense. Documentary records show an oscillation between 倭 and 日本 in the late 670s. By 702–703, the self‑designation 日本國 was stable (Korean sources adopted 日本國 from 698). Chinese histories (the Xin Tang Shu and Jiu Tang Shu) place the renaming around 670; the claim that “Wu Zetian changed it” is best interpreted as Tang-dynasty recognition of the new name.

Early diplomatic topos (607):

日出處天子致書日没處天子無恙。 [MSC, trad.]

日出处天子致书日没处天子无恙。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 隋書·東夷·倭國（607）

Rìchū chù tiānzǐ zhì shū rìméi chù tiānzǐ wúyàng. [Pinyin]

“The Son of Heaven from where the sun rises sends a letter to the Son of Heaven where the sun sets—may you be well.”

Earliest epigraphic 日本 (often rhetorical; sometimes read as “Baekje”) (678):

於時日本餘噍，据扶桑以逋誅。 [MSC, trad.]

于时日本余噍，据扶桑以逋诛。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 大唐故右威衛將軍上柱國祢公墓誌銘

Yú shí rìběn yújiào, jù fúsāng yǐ būzhū. [Pinyin]

“At that time the remnant of ‘Japan’ clung to Fusang to evade punishment.”

Reports of renaming (670):

倭國更號日本，自言近日所出以為名。 [MSC, trad.]

倭国更号日本，自言近日所出以为名。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 三國史記·新羅本紀·文武王十年

Wōguó gèng hào rìběn, zì yán jìn rì suǒ chū yǐ wèi míng. [Pinyin]

“The country of Wa changed its name to ‘Japan’, saying it was so named because it lay near where the sun rises.”

Earliest possible documentary 日本 (if authentic), preserved via quotation (664):

函上著鎮西將軍日本鎮西筑紫大將軍牒。 [MSC, trad.]

函上著镇西将军日本镇西筑紫大将军牒。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 善鄰國寳記（15th c.）引《海外國記》

Hán shàng zhù zhènxījiāngjūn rìběn zhènxī zhùzǐ dàjiāngjūn dié. [Pinyin]

“On the case was written: ‘Memorandum of the West‑Pacifying General, the Grand General of Tsukushi of Japan.’”

Transition/oscillation in documents (671/672):

書曰：「大唐帝敬問日本國天皇」；「大唐皇帝敬問倭王書」／「皇帝敬致書於日本國王」。 [MSC, trad.]

书曰：「大唐帝敬问日本国天皇」；「大唐皇帝敬问倭王书」／「皇帝敬致书于日本国王」。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 善鄰國寳記（15th c.）

Shū yuē: “Dàtáng dì jìng wèn rìběnguó tiānhuáng”; “dàtáng huángdì jìng wèn wō wáng shū” / “huángdì jìng zhì shū yú rìběn guówáng”. [Pinyin]

“(671) ‘The Great Tang Emperor respectfully inquires of the Heavenly Sovereign of the State of Japan’; (672) ‘The Emperor of Great Tang respectfully inquires of the King of Wa’ / ‘The Emperor respectfully addresses the King of the State of Japan’.”

Stabilized self‑designation (702~703):

有人來問曰：「何處使人？」答曰：「日本國使。」 [MSC, trad.]

有人来问曰：「何处使人？」答曰：「日本国使。」 [MSC, simp.]

From: 續日本紀（702–703）

Yǒu rén lái wèn yuē: “Hé chù shǐrén?” Dá yuē: “Rìběnguó shǐ.” [Pinyin]

“Someone asked, ‘Envoys from where?’ He replied, ‘Envoys of the State of Japan.’”

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): Rìběn

(Zhuyin): ㄖˋ ㄅㄣˇ

(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): Жыбын (Řɨbɨn, III-II)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): jat⁶ bun²

(Taishan, Wiktionary): ngit⁵ bon²
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): Ngi̍t-pún

(Hailu, HRS): ngid bun^ˊ
Jin (Wiktionary): reh⁴ beng²
Eastern Min (BUC): Nĭk-buōng
Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): zih⁷ bong³ / zih⁷ buong³
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): Ji̍t-pún / Li̍t-pún

(Teochew, Peng'im): rig⁸ bung²
Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁸zeq-pen / ⁸zeq-pen₃

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: Rìběn
  - Zhuyin: ㄖˋ ㄅㄣˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: Rìhběn
  - Wade–Giles: Jih⁴-pên³
  - Yale: R̀-běn
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Ryhbeen
  - Palladius: Жибэнь (Žibɛnʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʐ̩⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: Жыбын (Řɨbɨn, III-II)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʐ̩⁴⁴ pəŋ⁵¹/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: jat⁶ bun²
  - Yale: yaht bún
  - Cantonese Pinyin: jat⁹ bun²
  - Guangdong Romanization: yed⁶ bun²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɐt̚² puːn³⁵/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: ngit⁵ bon²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵑɡit̚³² pᵘɔn⁵⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Ngi̍t-pún
  - Hakka Romanization System: ngid bun^ˋ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: ngid⁶ bun³
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋit̚⁵ pun³¹/
- (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
  - Hakka Romanization System: ngid bun^ˊ
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋit⁵⁻² pun²⁴/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: reh⁴ beng²
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /ʐəʔ²⁻⁴⁵ pəŋ⁵³/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: Nĭk-buōng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /nˡiʔ⁵⁻³³ puoŋ³³/
Puxian Min
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: zih⁷ bong³ [Phonetic: zih⁶ bong³]
  - Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: Ci̍h-beông
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siʔ⁴⁻²¹ pɔŋ⁴⁵³/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: zih⁷ buong³ [Phonetic: zih⁶ buong³]
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siʔ⁴⁻² puoŋ³³²/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Kaohsiung, Penang, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ji̍t-pún
  - Tâi-lô: Ji̍t-pún
  - Phofsit Daibuun: jidpuon
  - Sinological IPA (Kaohsiung): /zit̚⁴⁻³² pun⁴¹/
  - Sinological IPA (Zhangpu): /d͡zit̚¹⁴⁻³³ pun⁵³/
  - Sinological IPA (Singapore): /d͡zit̚⁴³⁻²¹ pun⁴²/
  - Sinological IPA (Zhangzhou): /d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ pun⁵³/
  - Sinological IPA (Penang): /d͡zit̚⁴⁻³ pun⁴⁴⁵/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Jinjiang, Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Li̍t-pún
  - Tâi-lô: Li̍t-pún
  - Phofsit Daibuun: lidpuon
  - Sinological IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines): /lit̚²⁴⁻² pun⁵⁵⁴/
  - Sinological IPA (Xiamen, Taipei): /lit̚⁴⁻³² pun⁵³/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: rig⁸ bung²
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: ji̍k púng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /d͡zik̚⁴⁻² puŋ⁵²/
Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁸zeq-pen
  - MiniDict: zeh^入 pen
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ⁵zeq-pen
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zəʔ¹¹ pən²³/
- (Northern: Suzhou)
  - Wugniu: ⁸zeq-pen₃
  - MiniDict: zeh^入 pen^上
  - Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /zəʔ²² pən⁵¹/

Middle Chinese: nyit pwonX

Rime
Character	日	本
Reading #	1/1	1/1
Initial (聲)	日 (38)	幫 (1)
Final (韻)	質 (48)	魂 (55)
Tone (調)	Checked (Ø)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open	Closed
Division (等)	III	I
Fanqie	人質切	布忖切
Baxter	nyit	pwonX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ȵiɪt̚/	/puən^X/
Pan Wuyun	/ȵit̚/	/puon^X/
Shao Rongfen	/ȵʑjet̚/	/puən^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ȵit̚/	/pwən^X/
Li Rong	/ȵiĕt̚/	/puən^X/
Wang Li	/ȵʑĭĕt̚/	/puən^X/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ȵʑi̯ĕt̚/	/puən^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	rì	běn
Expected Cantonese Reflex	jat⁶	bun²

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!
Particularly: “Northern Min”

Proper noun

日本

Japan (a country and archipelago of East Asia)
日本電視劇／日本电视剧 ― Rìběn diànshìjù ― Japanese TV drama

Synonyms

edit

11區 / 11区 (shíyī-qū) (Internet slang)
倭 (historical, now pejorative)
日 (abbreviation)
日本國 / 日本国 (Rìběnguó) (official)
東洋 / 东洋 (Dōngyáng) (archaic)
東瀛 / 东瀛 (Dōngyíng) (literary, poetic)
立本 (lìběn) (internet slang)
輻島 / 辐岛 (Fúdǎo) (Internet slang, derogatory)
鄉下 / 乡下 (hoeng1 haa6-2) (Hong Kong Cantonese, humorous)
霓虹 (níhóng) (Internet slang)
🐌 (Internet slang, derogatory, humorous)

Derived terms

大日本帝國 / 大日本帝国 (Dà Rìběn Dìguó)
小日本 (xiǎorìběn)
日本人 (rìběnrén)
日本刀 (Rìběndāo)
日本化 (rìběnhuà)
日本味精——未知數 / 日本味精——未知数
日本料理 (Rìběn liàolǐ)
日本暖流 (Rìběn Nuǎnliú)
日本狗獾
日本箏 / 日本筝 (Rìběnzhēng)
日本紫珠 (Rìběn zǐzhū)
日本腦炎 / 日本脑炎 (Rìběn nǎoyán)
日本血吸蟲 / 日本血吸虫 (Rìběn xuèxīchóng)
日本語 / 日本语 (Rìběnyǔ)
日本郵輪——遲早完 / 日本邮轮——迟早完
日本金龜子 / 日本金龟子 (rìběn jīnguīzǐ)
日本銀行 / 日本银行 (Rìběn Yínháng)
日本首相——左騰右騰 / 日本首相——左腾右腾
日本鬼子 (Rìběn guǐzi)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (日本):

→ Japanese: 日本(にほん) (Nihon); 日本(にっぽん) (Nippon); 日本(じっぽん) (Jippon)
→ Korean: 일본(日本) (Ilbon)
→ Vietnamese: Nhật Bản (日本)

Others:

→ Lao: ຍີ່ປຸ່ນ (nyī pun)
→ Malay: Jepang, Jepun (see there for further descendants)
→ Manchu: ᡰᡳ
ᠪᡝᠨ (ži ben)
→ Thai: ญี่ปุ่น (yîi-bpùn)
→ Tibetan: ཇི་བེན (ji ben)
→ Wutunhua: reben
→ Zhuang: Yizbwnj

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
日	本
に Grade: 1	ほん Grade: 1
nanori	goon

Japanese Wikipedia has an article on:

日本

Wikipedia ^ja

English Wikipedia has an article on:

Names of Japan

Wikipedia

/nitɨpoɴ/ → /nip̚poɴ/ → /niɸoɴ/ → /nihoɴ/

Coined in Japan of Sinic elements, as compound of 日 (nichi, “sun”) +‎ 本 (hon, “origin”) and literally meaning "origin of the sun". The hon element was apparently pronounced /poɴ/ when first coined. Over time, the initial /p/ lenited, becoming /ɸ/ as shown in the Nifon entry in the 1603 Nippo Jisho ("Japanese-Portuguese Dictionary").^[1] This then became the /h/ sound in modern Japanese.^[2]^[3]

More information

In older texts, this was read as kun'yomi as 日の本 (Hinomoto). The on'yomi readings Nippon and Nihon became more common in the Heian period, with both persisting into modern use.^[3] The Nihon reading appears to be the most common in everyday Japanese usage.^[4]

This appellation comes from Prince Shōtoku's famous letter from Prince Shōtoku to Emperor Yang of Sui sent via the Japanese mission to Sui China in 607, wherein we see the first mention of Japan as the Land of the Rising Sun, and a description of China as Land of the Setting Sun:

日出處天子致書日沒處天子無恙云云 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

日出处天子致书日没处天子无恙云云 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

rì chū chù tiānzǐ zhìshū rì méi chù tiānzǐ wúyàng yúnyún [Pinyin]

...the son of heaven of the land of the rising sun sends a letter to the son of heaven of the place where the sun sets, for good health and so on.

日出處 (literally “sun + emerge + place”) here refers to Japan, while 日沒處 (literally “sun + sink + place”) refers to China. "Sun emerge place" both refers to the eastward position of Japan relative to China, and metaphorically places the Yamato Kingship during Empress Suiko's reign on a similar footing as to the Sui dynasty under Emperor Yang's rule.

The earliest date for the specific spelling 日本 (literally “sun source”) instead of the periphrastic 日出處 (literally “sun emerge place”) may be 664, as mentioned in a fragment of the 733 text 海外国記 (Kaigai Kokki, “Record of Overseas Countries”), describing a letter given in 664 to a Tang emissary arriving in Dazaifu.^[5] However, it remains an open question whether this instance of 日本 might have been a change in name that happened between the actual event in 664 and the recording of that event in 733.^[5] More certainly, the Japanese source Shoku Nihongi relates that a 702 or 703 mission from Japan to the Tang court requested that the Chinese change the official name from 倭 (Wa) to 日本 (Nippon), and this appears to be corroborated by accounts in the Chinese source Old Book of Tang.^[5]^[6]

Despite the spelling, the term may have been read out as the older name Yamato for some time afterwards, as suggested by kana glosses in sources such as the Man'yōshū poetry anthology of 759.^[2]^[7]

Doublet of ジャパン (Japan).