japan

CEFRB1

/d͡ʒəˈpæn/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A country in East Asia made up of many islands.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.

Examples

  • I wish I could go to Japan.

  • Japan has pledged $100 million in humanitarian aid.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. An archipelago of East Asia; in full, Japanese archipelago.

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To varnish (something) with japan.

  2. To ordain (someone).

More examples

In context

  • Japan is full of beautiful cities. Kyoto and Nara, for instance.

  • Nolan: You do know Japan have expressed concern? Douglas: What, the whole country? Nolan: No, not the whole... Mr Yamamoto. Douglas: He's important, isn't he? Nolan: He's the major shareholder.

  • Japan’s very interesting. Some people think it copies things. I don’t think that anymore. I think what they do is reinvent things. They will get something that’s already been invented and study it until they thoroughly understand it. In some cases, they under...

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

blank is an island nation in Asia known for its technology and sushi.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

First attested in English as Giapan in Richard Willes's 1577 The History of Travayle in the West and East Indies (cited in Peter C. Mancall's Travel Narratives from the Age of Discovery, pp. 156–57), translating a 19 February 1565 letter of the Portuguese Jesuit missionary Luís Fróis as "Of the Ilande of Giapan". Borrowed from Portuguese Japam /Japão with possible influence from Dutch Japan, both from Malay Jepang, from Hokkien 日本 (Ji̍t-pún), from Middle Chinese 日本 (nyit pwon^X, “sun origin”). With /j/ readings, such as Iaponia /Japonia /Japon /Iapon from possibly Cantonese 日本 (jat⁶ bun²), also from Middle Chinese 日本 (nyit pwon^X, “sun origin”). Compare also modern Mandarin 日本 (Rìběn), Japa...