How to Say Japan in Japanese: 日本 — Nihon or Nippon
Japan in Japanese is 日本, and the name has two readings: にほん (Nihon) in everyday speech and にっぽん (Nippon) in formal contexts — on coins, stamps, and stadiums. Literally it means 'source of the sun'. The Japanese language is 日本語 (nihongo), and a Japanese person is 日本人 (nihonjin).
A country with two official names and no choice between them: in 1934 the government considered the matter and decided not to decide. So on a coin it reads ＮＩＰＰＯＮ, while in conversation you hear 'Nihon' — and both are correct.
What Japan and Everything Japanese Are Called
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 日本 | Nihon · Nihon | Japan |
| 日本 | Nippon · Nippon | Japan (formal) |
| 日本語 | nihongo · nihongo | Japanese language |
| 日本人 | nihonjin · nihonjin | Japanese person |
| 日本料理 | nihon ryōri · nihon ryōri | Japanese cuisine |
| 和食 | washoku · washoku | Japanese food (via the kanji 和 'Japanese') |
| 東京 | Tōkyō · Tōkyō | Tokyo — 'eastern capital' |
Why 'Source of the Sun'
日 means sun, 本 means source or origin. The name arose from a mainland perspective: Japan lies east of China, where the sun rises. Hence the European 'Japan' — it came through the Chinese reading of the same characters, heard by the Portuguese.
Nihon or Nippon — When to Use Which
- Nihon — everyday speech, news, conversation: 日本語, 日本人, 日本の文化.
- Nippon — formal and ceremonial: coins, postage stamps, stadium chants (がんばれニッポン!).
- Company names use both: Nippon Steel, but Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
- There is no difference in meaning — only in register. The government never officially settled on one.
How to Say 'I'm from Russia'
ロシアから来ました (Roshia kara kimashita) — 'I came from Russia'. Or shorter: ロシア人です (Roshiajin desu) — 'I'm Russian'. Country names are written in katakana, except a few old ones: 日本, 中国 (China), 韓国 (Korea), 米国 (USA).
Say the Name Out Loud
'Nihon' — two even syllables, with a nasal 'n' at the end.
FAQ
- How do you say 'Japan' in Japanese?
- 日本 — read as 'Nihon' in everyday speech and 'Nippon' in formal contexts. Literally 'source of the sun'.
- What's the difference between 'Nihon' and 'Nippon'?
- Only the register: Nihon is everyday, Nippon is official and ceremonial (coins, stamps, stadiums). The meaning is the same.
- How do you say 'Japanese language'?
- 日本語 (nihongo). 'I study Japanese' — 日本語を勉強しています (nihongo o benkyō shite imasu).
- Where does the word 'Japan' come from?
- From the Chinese reading of the same characters 日本, heard by Europeans through the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Japanese themselves do not use this word.
Updated: 2026-07-25