洋よう

noun

the Occident and the Orient; East and West

Used in formal or historical contexts to refer to the Western and Eastern worlds together, often with emphasis on the West. Common in set phrases like 洋の東西.

• 洋ようの東とう西ざいを問とわず、この思し想そうは広ひろまっている。

  This idea has spread regardless of East or West.

noun

ocean; sea

Literary or poetic term for the ocean. Not used in everyday conversation; modern Japanese prefers 海.

• 彼かれは広こう大だいな洋ように船ふな出でした。

  He set sail on the vast ocean.

prefix

Western; European; foreign

Prefix used in compounds to indicate Western or foreign origin, as in 洋食 (Western-style food), 洋服 (Western clothing), 洋楽 (Western music).

• 洋よう食しょくと和わ食しょく、どちらが好すきですか。

  Which do you prefer, Western food or Japanese food?