南なん蛮ばん

noun

southern barbarians

Historical, derogatory term from ancient China for non-Chinese ethnic groups to the south. Rare in modern Japanese outside historical references.

• 古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくでは、南なん方ぽうの異い民みん族ぞくを南なん蛮ばんと呼よんだ。

  In ancient China, non-Chinese ethnic groups to the south were called 'southern barbarians'.

noun

Southeast Asia; Western Europe (historical)

In late-Muromachi and Edo periods, referred broadly to Southeast Asian countries and later to Western Europe, especially Spain, Portugal, and their colonies. Now a historical term.

• 南なん蛮ばん貿ぼう易えきは、戦せん国ごく時じ代だいから江え戸ど初しょ期きにかけて盛さかんに行おこなわれた。

  Nanban trade flourished from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period.

noun, used as a prefix

foreign; exotic (historical)

Prefix used historically for goods, styles, or items from Southeast Asia or Western Europe, often with an exotic or Western connotation. Common in compounds like 南蛮菓子 (nanban sweets).

• 南なん蛮ばん渡と来らいの品しな々じなが珍ちん重ちょうされた。

  Goods brought by the Nanban (Westerners) were highly prized.

noun

chili pepper

Abbreviation of 南蛮辛子 (なんばんがらし). Used in some regions or older contexts to refer to chili peppers. See also 唐辛子.

See also: 唐辛子

• この地ち方ほうでは、唐とう辛がら子しのことを南なん蛮ばんと呼よぶことがある。

  In this region, chili peppers are sometimes called 'nanban'.

noun

nanban dish

Abbreviation of 南蛮煮 (なんばんに). A dish prepared with chili peppers and Welsh onions, often featuring meat or fish. Culinary term.

See also: 南蛮煮

• 鶏とりの南なん蛮ばんは、甘あま酢ずあんがかかった人にん気きの料りょう理りだ。

  Chicken nanban is a popular dish with sweet-and-sour sauce.

noun

kabuki pose (arm and leg thrust)

In kabuki, dance, and puppetry, a stylized movement where the right foot and right arm (or left foot and left arm) are thrust forward simultaneously. Specialized performing-arts term.

• 歌か舞ぶ伎きの南なん蛮ばんの見み得えは、力ちから強づよい印いん象しょうを与あたえる。

  The nanban pose in kabuki creates a powerful impression.