Today we will expand our vocabulary by learning the names of countries in Japanese. The names of most countries are written in katakana, but they can also be written with kanji ideograms. In this article, you will find the complete list on the world map.
Country in Japanese is called “kuni” [国], an ideogram that can also refer to regions, states, governments, and other places. For example, the language of a country is called “kokugo” [国語]. Now that you know this, shall we see some countries in Japanese?
Table of Contents
Tairiku – Continents in Japanese
The continents in the Japanese language are called tairiku [大陸], and you can see the list of them below:
| Continent | Kanji | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | アフリカ大陸 | afurika tairiku |
| Antarctica | 南極大陸 | nankyoku tairiku |
| Asia | アジア大陸 / 亜細亜大陸 | ajia tairiku |
| Oceania | オセアニア大陸 | oseania tairiku |
| Europe | ヨーロッパ大陸 / 欧州 | yooroppa tairiku / ōshū |
| North America | 北アメリカ大陸 / 北米 | kita amerika tairiku / hokubei |
| South America | 南アメリカ大陸 / 南米 | minami amerika tairiku / nambei |
Countries of Africa in Japanese
Africa in Japanese is afurika [アフリカ] and [阿弗利加], but it can also be called godaishuu [五代集]. Below is a list of countries in Africa in Japanese:
| Country | Kanji | Kana | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | エジプト | エジプト | Ejiputo |
| Algeria | アルジェリア / アルジェリア民主人民共和国 | アルジェリア / アルジェリアみんしゅじんみんきょうわこく | Arujeria / Arujeria minshujinmin kyouwakoku |
| Chad | チャド / チャド共和国 | チャド / チャド共和国 | Chado / Chado kyouwakoku |
| Libya | リビア / 社会主義人民リビアアラブ国 | リビア / しゃかいしゅぎじんみんリビアアラブこく | Ribia / Shakaishugi jinmin Ribia-arabukoku |
| South Africa | 南アフリカ / 南アフリカ共和国 | みなみアフリカ / みなみアフリカきょうわこく | Minami Afurika / Minami Afurika Kyouwakoku |
Countries of Asia in Japanese
Below we will see a list of countries in Japanese located in Asia and the East. The names of these continents are in Katakana in each subtitle.
Far East [東アジア]
Note that some countries in Asia often have their writing in Kanji, as they are closer to Japan and have unusual meanings. At the end of this article, we will discuss the meanings of some of these countries.
| Country | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| China | 中国 | Chuugoku |
| Hong Kong | 香港 | Honkon |
| Japan | 日本 | Nihon / Nippon |
| Macau | 澳門 | Makao |
| Mongolia | モンゴル | Mongori |
| North Korea | 北朝鮮 | Kitachousen |
| South Korea | 韓国 | Kankou |
| Taiwan | 台湾 | Taiwan |
- Japan classifies Mongolia as a country of the Far East (Mongolia is considered a country of Central Asia)
- Mongolia is also known as mouku [蒙古]
- China is also called [チャイナ] or [シナ]
- Japan is also called ジャパン
- The two Koreas are also known as chousen [朝鮮] or koria;
- The Korean Peninsula is also called chousenhantou [朝鮮半島];
Southeast Asia – Tounanajia [東南アジア]
| Portuguese | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Brunei | ブルネイ | burunei |
| Cambodia | カンボジア | kanbojia |
| East Timor | 東ティモール | higashi tiimooru |
| Indonesia | インドネシア | indoneshia |
| Laos | ラオス | raosu |
| Malaysia | マレーシア | maraashia |
| Myanmar | ミャンマー | myanmaa |
| Philippines | 比律賓 | fiiripin |
| Singapore | 新嘉坡 | shingapuura |
| Thailand | 泰 | tai |
| Vietnam | 越南 | betonama |
Indian Subcontinent – Minamiajia [南アジア]
| Portuguese | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | バングラデシュ | bannguradeshu |
| Bhutan | ブータン | buutan |
| India | インド | indo |
| Maldives | モルディブ | marudiibu |
| Nepal | ネパール | nepaaru |
| Pakistan | パキスタン | pakisutan |
| Sri Lanka | スリランカ | suriranka |
Central Asia – Chuuouajia [中央アジア]
| Portuguese | Unofficial | Official Name |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | アフガニスタン | afeganisutan |
| Kazakhstan | カザフスタン | kazafusutan |
| Kyrgyzstan | キルギスタン | kirigisutan |
| Tajikistan | タジキスタン | tajikisutan |
| Turkmenistan | トルクメニスタン | torukumenisutan |
| Uzbekistan | ウズベキスタン | uzubekisutan |
Countries of Europe in Japanese
Europe in Japanese is eeroppa [ヨーロッパ] and [欧羅巴] or it can also be oushuu [欧州] and oubei [欧米]. Below we will see a list of countries in Japanese located on the European continent:
| Country | Kanji | Kana | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | アイスランド | アイスランド | aisurando |
| Ireland | 愛蘭 | アイルランド | airurando |
| Albania | アルバニア | アルバニア | arubania |
| Andorra | アンドラ | アンドラ | andora |
| United Kingdom – England – Scotland – Wales – Northern Ireland | 英吉利 / 英国 – 英蘭 – 蘇格蘭 – ウェールズ – 北愛蘭 | イギリス / えいこく – イングランド – スコットランド – ウェールズ – きたアイルランド | igirisu / eikoku – ingurando – sukottorando – weruzu – kita airurando |
| Italy | 伊太利 | イタリア | itaria |
| Ukraine | 烏克蘭 | ウクライナ | Ukuraina |
| Estonia | エストニア | エストニア | Esutonia |
| Austria | 墺太利 | オーストリア | oosutoria |
| Netherlands | 阿蘭陀 | オランダ | Oranda |
| Greece | 希臘 | ギリシア / ギリシャ | Girisia / Girisha |
| Croatia | クロアチア | クロアチア | Kuroachia |
| Switzerland | 瑞西 | スイス | suisu |
| Sweden | 瑞典 | スウェーデン | suweden |
| Slovakia | スロバキア | スロバキア | surobakia |
| Slovenia | スロベニア | スロベニア | surobenia |
| Spain | 西班牙 | スペイン | supein |
| Czech Republic | 捷克 | チェコ | cheko |
| Denmark | 丁抹 | デンマーク | denmaku |
| Germany | 独逸 | ドイツ | doitsu |
| Turkey | 土耳古 | トルコ | toruko |
| Norway | 諾威 | ノルウェー | noruwe |
| Hungary | 洪牙利 | ハンガリー | Hangari |
| Finland | 芬蘭 | フィンランド | finrando |
| France | 仏蘭西 | フランス | Furansu |
| Belarus | 白ロシア | ベラルーシ | berarushi |
| Bulgaria | 勃牙利 | ブルガリア | burugaria |
| Belgium | 白耳義 | ベルギー | berugi |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | ボスニア・ヘルツェゴビナ | ボスニア・ヘルツェゴビナ | bosunia herutsegobina |
| Poland | 波蘭 | ポーランド | porando |
| Portugal | 葡萄牙 | ポルトガル | porutogaru |
| Malta | マルタ | マルタ | maruta |
| Moldova | モルドバ | モルドバ | morudoba |
| Serbia and Montenegro | セルビア・モンテネグロ | セルビア・モンテネグロ | Serubia Monteneguro |
| Latvia | ラトビア | ラトビア | ratobia |
| Lithuania | リトアニア | リトアニア | ritoania |
| Luxembourg | ルクセンブルク | ルクセンブルク | rukusenburuku |
| Romania | 羅馬尼亜 | ルーマニア | rumania |
| Russia | 露西亜 | ロシア | roshia |
Countries of North America in Japanese
North America in Japanese is kitaamerica [北アメリカ] or hokubei [北米]. Below is a list of countries in Japanese from North America:
| Country | Kanji | Kana | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 加奈陀 | カナダ | kanada |
| United States | 亜米利加 – 米国 | アメリカ – べいこく | amerika – beikoku |
| Mexico | 墨西哥 | メキシコ | mekishiko |
| Panama | 巴奈馬 | パナマ | panama |
| Cuba | 玖馬 | キューバ | kyuba |
| Jamaica | 牙買加 | ジャマイカ | jamaika |
| Dominican Republic | ドミニカ国 | ドミニカこく | dominika koku |
| Haiti | ハイチ | ハイチ | haichi |
Countries of South America in Japanese
South America in Japanese is minami amerika [南アメリカ] or nanbei [南米]. Below we have a list of countries from South America in Japanese:
| Country | Kanji | Kana | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 伯剌西爾・伯国 | ブラジル | burajiru |
| Argentina | 亜爾然丁 | アルゼンチン | aruzenchin |
Countries of Oceania in Japanese
Oceania in Japanese is pronounced oseania [オセアニア] taiyoushyu [大洋州]. Below we have a list of countries in Oceania in Japanese:
| Country | Kanji | Kana | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 豪州 | オーストラリア | oosutoraria |
| New Zealand | 新西蘭 | ニュージーランド | nyuu jiirando |
Abbreviation and Kanji of countries in Japanese
The list below contains the ideogram of each country and also a kanji that serves as an abbreviation of the country in Japanese. Remember that despite the ideograms, most countries are still pronounced using the katakana reading, even when written in kanji.
This happens because of Ateji [当て字]; before katakana existed, countries already had such pronunciations, but ideograms that had these pronunciations were used, even though most of the time the ideograms have no relation to the characteristics of the country.
| Country | Romaji | Kanji | Abv |
| Argentina | Arugenchina | 亜爾然丁 | 亜 |
| Australia | Osutoraria | 豪斯多剌里亜 | 豪 |
| Austria | O-sutoria | 墺太利 | 墺 |
| Belgium | Berugi- | 白耳義 | 白 |
| Bolivia | Boribia | 波利美亜 | 波 |
| Brazil | Burajiru | 伯剌西爾 | 伯 |
| Bulgaria | Burugaria | 布爾加利亜 | 布 |
| Canada | Kanada | 加拿大 | 加 |
| Chile | Chiri | 智利 | 智 |
| China | Chuuka Jinmin Kyouwakoku (Chuugoku) | 中華人民共和国 | 中 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kongo Minshu Kyou Wakoku | 公果 | 公 |
| Denmark | Denma-ku | 丹麦 | 丹 |
| Egypt | Ejiputo | 埃及多 | 埃 |
| England | Igirisu | 英吉利西 | 英 |
| Finland | Finrando | 芬蘭土 | 芬 |
| France | Furansu | 仏蘭西 | 仏 |
| Germany | Doitsu | 独逸 | 独 |
| Greece | Girisha | 希臘 | 希 |
| Hungary | Hangari- | 匈牙利 | 匈 |
| Iceland | Aisurando | 氷島 | 氷 |
| India | Indo | 印度 | 印 |
| Indonesia | Indoneshia | 印度尼西亜 | 尼 |
| Ireland | Airurando | 愛蘭土 | 愛 |
| Italy | Itaria | 伊太利亜 | 伊 |
| Japan | Nihon | 日本 | 日 |
| Kazakhstan | Kazafusutan | 香佐富斯坦 | 香 |
| Laos | Raosu | 老檛 | 老 |
| Latvia | Ratobia | 良都美野 | 良 |
| Malaysia | Maree-shiya | 馬来西亜 | 馬 |
| Mexico | Mekishiko | 墨西哥 | 墨 |
| Mongolia | Mongoru | 蒙古 | 蒙 |
| Myanmar | Myanmaa- | 緬甸 | 緬 |
| Netherlands | Oranda | 阿蘭陀 | 蘭 |
| New Zealand | Nyuu-ji-rando | 新西蘭土 | 新 |
| North Korea | Chousen Minjujugi Jinmin Kyouwakoku (Kita Chousen) | 朝鮮民主主義人民共和国 | 朝 |
| Norway | Noruwei- | 那威 | 那 |
| Panama | Panama | 巴拿馬 | 巴 |
| Peru | Peru- | 秘魯 | 秘 |
| Philippines | Fuiripin | 比利賓 | 比 |
| Poland | Po-rando | 波蘭土 | 波 |
| Portugal | Porutogaru | 葡萄牙 | 葡 |
| Republic of the Congo | Kongo Kyou Wakoku | 公果 | 公 |
| Romania | Ru-mania | 羅馬尼亜 | 羅 |
| Russia | Roshia | 露西亜 | 露 |
| Saudi Arabia | Saujiarabia | 沙地亜剌比亜 | 沙 |
| Singapore | Shingapo-ru | 星嘉波 | 星 |
| South Africa | Minami Afurika | 南阿弗利加 | 南阿 |
| South Korea | Taikanminkoku (Kankoku) | 大韓民国 | 韓 |
| Spain | Supein | 西班牙 | 西 |
| Sri Lanka | Suriranka | 錫蘭 | 錫 |
| Sweden | Suuei-den | 瑞典 | 瑞 |
| Switzerland | Suisu | 瑞士 | 瑞 |
| Syria | Shiriya | 叙利亜 | 叙 |
| Taiwan | Chuuka Minkoku | 中華民国 | 台 |
| Tajikistan | Tajikisutan | 塔吉克斯坦 | 塔 |
| Thailand | Tai | 泰 | 泰 |
| Tunisia | Chunisha | 突尼斯 | 突 |
| Turkey | Toruko | 土耳其 | 土 |
| Ukraine | Ukuraina | 烏克蘭 | 烏 |
| USA | Amerika | 亜米利加 | 米 |
| Venezuela | Benejuera | 委内瑞拉 | 委 |
| Vietnam | Betonamu | 越南 | 越 |
Meaning of the names of countries in Japanese
China, called chuukoku [中国], literally means central country, central part, or central region. Japan, called nippon [日本], literally means origin of the sun, or land of the rising sun as some say.
Thailand comes from the ideogram tai [泰], which means peaceful, calm, easy, and extreme. Korea is written as kankoku [韓国], which despite having commonly used ideograms, currently conveys nothing more than the idea of a country of Korea.
North Korea is called kitachousen [北朝鮮], composed of the ideograms for North and another ideogram that conveys the idea of dynasty, period, and regime. The last ideogram conveys the idea of fresh, vivid, clear, and bright.
It is worth remembering that ideograms do not have meanings; they only convey ideas and concepts that can be easily broken down into a specific word. Do not think of North Korea as a lively and bright land.
Video of the countries in Japanese
Below I will leave a video summarizing the article, in case you want to watch:
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