Japan

The word “Japan” means an island nation in East Asia, whose capital is Tokyo. In plain terms, mainly the country in East Asia; less commonly, a type of glossy black varnish or the act of applying it.

“Japan” is pronounced juh-PAN (/d͡ʒəˈpæn/ in IPA).

Here is “Japan” used in a sentence: “They spent three weeks travelling around Japan.”

Depending on how it is used, “Japan” can be a name, a noun and a verb.

The word “Japan” comes from Portuguese. The country name reached English via Portuguese and Malay from a Chinese term meaning roughly "sun origin"; the lacquer sense comes from ornamental lacquerware first associated with East Asian craftsmanship.

“Japan” is a very common word in modern English.

“Japan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an island nation in East Asia, whose capital is Tokyo.

The capital of Japan is Tokyo, one of the largest and most populous metropolitan areas in the world. It is the country's political, financial, and cultural centre, home to the national government and the Imperial Palace. Tokyo sits on the eastern coast of the main island, Honshu.

Japan is an island nation in East Asia, lying off the eastern coast of the Asian mainland in the Pacific Ocean. It is an archipelago of thousands of islands, four of which — Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku — make up most of its land and population.

Japan is known for blending ancient tradition with cutting-edge technology. Highlights include its cuisine such as sushi and ramen, cultural exports like anime and manga, high-speed bullet trains, cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji, and historic temples and shrines. It is also a major force in the global economy.

The official language is Japanese, written with a mix of kanji characters and the kana syllabaries. The national currency is the yen, symbolised by ¥. Both are central to daily life across the country, from street signs and menus to prices and everyday transactions.