Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

南蛮黍 (なんばんきび, nanbankibi) Japanese meaning: corn | Kotomora

南なん蛮ばん黍きび

also: なんばきび

な

ん

ば

ん

き

び

Meanings

1

rare term

Rare historical term for maize, introduced from abroad. Modern Japanese normally uses トウモロコシ.

See also: トウモロコシ

江え戸

ど

時じ

代だい

の

文ぶん

献けん

に

は

「

南なん

蛮ばん

黍きび

」

と

いう

表ひょう

記き

が

見み

られる

。

The notation '南蛮黍' can be found in Edo-period documents.

Kanji

南south
蛮barbarian
黍millet

Related words

トウモロコシ
Standard modern word for corn/maize. 南蛮黍 is a rare historical synonym.
玉蜀黍とうもろこし
Alternate kanji spelling for トウモロコシ, also rare. 南蛮黍 is an even less common variant.

Built from

南なん蛮ばん+キビ

Written forms

南蛮黍
- なんばんきび
  Historical kanji spelling for maize, literally 'southern barbarian millet'. Rare and mainly encountered in older texts.
- なんばきび
なんばきび
Contracted reading. Rare, and may appear in dialectal or older contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 南蛮 (nanban, 'southern barbarians', referring to early European traders) and 黍 (kibi, 'millet'), reflecting the foreign origin of maize. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.