日本にほん

also: にっぽん

に

ほ

ん

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

noun

Japan

The country name; にほん is the everyday reading, while にっぽん is used in formal, official, or emphatic contexts.

日本にほんは島しま国ぐにです。
Japan is an island nation.
にっぽんの代だい表ひょうとして頑がん張ばります。
I will do my best as a representative of Japan.

See all 5,810 example sentences ›

Expressions

怪レい日本語あやしいにほんごbroken Japanese; odd Japanese
日本語でおｋにほんごでおけyou're not making any sense; can I have that in Japanese?
やさしい日本にほん語ごsimplified Japanese; easy Japanese

Kanji

日day, sun, Japan
本book, present, main

Related words· 8

本ほん朝ちょう
日本 is the ordinary modern word for Japan, while 本朝 is a literary, historical term used from a domestic, self-referential viewpoint.
東とう海かい
日本 is the ordinary modern word for Japan, whereas 東海 in this sense is an archaic, poetic name for the country rarely used today.
大和やまと
日本 is the modern name for the country, while 大和 is the ancient, often poetic or historical name for early Japan.
ジャパンN1
日本 is the standard native Japanese word for the country, while ジャパン is an English loanword used mainly in compounds, brand names, and stylized contexts.

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大だい日本にっぽん帝てい国こく
日本 is the modern, neutral name for the country, while 大日本帝国 is the historical official name used from 1890 to 1947.
日にちN3
日本 is the ordinary standalone word for Japan, while 日 is only used as an abbreviation inside compounds like 日米 or 訪日.
ジパング
ジパング is the historical exonym for Japan used by Marco Polo, while 日本 is the standard modern name for the country.
我わが国くにN1
日本 is the plain, factual name for Japan, whereas 我が国 adds a sense of belonging or patriotism when referring to Japan as 'our country'.

Word family· 111

日本にほん人じん
Japanese person; Japanese people
日本にほん語ごN5
Japanese (language)
東ひがし日本にほん
eastern Japan
日本にほん一いち
Japan's best; number one in Japan
西にし日本にほん
western Japan; West Japan

Show 18 more

全ぜん日本にほん
all of Japan; the whole of Japan · all-Japan; national; Japan-wide · All-Japan Championships; Japanese national championships · Japan national team
日に本ほんテレビ
Nippon Television Network
日本にほん海かい
Sea of Japan
日本にほん円えん
Japanese yen; JPY
北きた日本にほん
northern Japan
ニホンザル
Japanese macaque
日本にほん脳のう炎えん
Japanese encephalitis
日本にほん髪がみ
traditional Japanese women's hairstyle
日本にほん製せいN4
made in Japan; Japanese-made
日本にほん酒しゅN1
sake; Japanese rice wine
日本にほん列れっ島とうN2
the Japanese archipelago; the Japanese islands
中なか日本にほん
central Japan
南みなみ日本にほん
southern Japan
日本にほん中じゅう
throughout Japan; all over Japan
日本にほん側がわ
the Japanese side; Japanese representatives
日本にほん兵へい
Japanese soldier
日本にほん刀とう
Japanese sword; katana
日本にほん初はつ
first in Japan; Japan's first

See all 111 in Explore →

Written forms

日本Usage97%
- にほん
  Standard kanji spelling; the most common reading is にほん.
- にっぽん
  Alternate reading used in formal contexts, sports chants, and official names; less common in everyday speech.
にほんUsage2%
ニッポンUsage1%
ニホンUsage<1%
にっぽんUsage<1%

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 日本 (nyit pwonX, literally 'sun origin'), referring to the country's eastern position relative to China. The reading にほん reflects a regular sound change from earlier にっぽん, which is preserved in formal usage.