Nihon
/nihoɴ/noun
The Japanese name for Japan.
Did you know?The name Nihon/Nippon reflects a Chinese-influenced way of describing Japan as the land from which the sun appears, and the characters 日本 are still read today in official and ceremonial contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
日本
“"sun origin"; a way to refer to the land east of China”
7th Century
Sino-Japanese
日本
“Adopted in Japanese as a name for Japan, emphasizing its eastern location”
Old Japanese
Japanese
にほん / にっぽん
“Readings used for the country name, with Nippon often sounding more formal or ceremonial”
Modern Japanese
Japanese
Nihon
“The standard everyday Japanese name for Japan”