欧
Europe
Readings
On'yomi
- オウ
Kun'yomi
- うた.う
- は.く
Nanori
- おお
- ひろ
Meaning
欧 centers on the idea of Europe, used in compounds for European things. The older meaning of 'vomit' or 'cough up' is rare in modern Japanese.
Most common words using 欧
20 of 118- 欧州おうしゅう
Europe
- 欧米おうべいN3
Europe and the United States; Europe and America; the West
- 北欧ほくおうN3
Northern Europe; Nordic countries; Scandinavia
- 西欧せいおうN3
Western Europe
- 東欧とうおうN3
Eastern Europe
- 欧おう
Europe
- 南欧なんおうN3
Southern Europe
- 欧文おうぶん
writing in a European language; European text; Roman letters
- 欧風おうふう
European-style; Western; Occidental
- 中欧ちゅうおう
Central Europe
- 訪欧ほうおう
visit to Europe; visiting Europe
- 渡欧とおう
going to Europe; trip to Europe
- 欧州連合おうしゅうれんごうN2
European Union; EU
- ロシア東欧貿易会ロシアとうおうぼうえきかい
Japan Association for Trade with Russia & Central-Eastern Europe (ROTOBO)
- 中東欧ちゅうとうおう
Central and Eastern Europe
- 亜欧あおう
Asia and Europe; Eurasia
- 全欧ぜんおう
all Europe
- 北欧デザインほくおうデザイン
Scandinavian design
- 北欧人ほくおうじん
Nordic person; Scandinavian; Northern European
- 北欧会議ほくおうかいぎ
Nordic Council
Study
Etymology
欧 originally combined 区 (a container) with 欠 (a person with an open mouth), suggesting vomiting or coughing up. In modern Japanese it is used almost exclusively as a phonetic abbreviation for Europe.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 区 looks like a map of Europe with its distinct borders, and the right side 欠 looks like a person opening their mouth in awe at the continent's wonders.
Reading mnemonic
For オウ, imagine a European person saying 'Oh!' in surprise: Oh -> オウ, as they discover the beauty of Europe.