wō
倭
ancient Chinese name for Japan
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
ancient Chinese name for Japan; Wo
archaicUsed in historical texts from the Han to Tang dynasties to refer to Japan. In modern Chinese, it is most commonly encountered in the compound 倭寇 (wō kòu) referring to Japanese pirates. The term carries historical connotations and is not used in contemporary polite discourse about Japan.
Shǐ史
shū书
zhōng中
chēng称
rì日
běn本
wéi为
wō倭
guó国
。
Historical books called Japan the 'State of Wo'.
Míng明
cháo朝
shí时
qī期
，
wō倭
kòu寇
jīng经
cháng常
sāo骚
rǎo扰
zhōng中
guó国
yán沿
hǎi海
dì地
dài带
。
During the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates frequently harassed China's coastal areas.
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Dōng东
wō倭
shì是
gǔ古
dài代
zhōng中
guó国
duì对
rì日
běn本
de的
chēng称
hū呼
zhī之
yī一
。
'Eastern Wo' was one of ancient China's names for Japan.