japan: [17] The hard laquer varnish called japan received its name, of course, because it came from Japan. But where did the name Japan come from? For the Japanese call their country Nippon. The answer is Chinese, where jih pun means literally ‘sunrise’ (jih is ‘sun’, and the equivalent term in Japanese is ni, so Japanese Nippon too is the ‘land of the rising sun’). The Chinese word came into English via Malay Japang. Another English derivative is the name of the shrub japonica [19], which originated in Japan.
1570s, via Portuguese Japao, Dutch Japan, acquired in Malacca from Malay Japang, from Chinese jih pun "sunrise" (equivalent of Japanese Nippon), from jih "sun" + pun "origin." Earliest form in Europe was Marco Polo's Chipangu. Cultural contact led to japaning "coat with lacquer or varnish" (1680s), japonaiserie (1896, from French), etc.
双语例句
1. Prior to his Japan trip, he went to New York.
在去日本之前，他去了纽约。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The betting is that the experience will make Japan more competitive still.
这场经历很有可能使日本更具竞争力。
来自柯林斯例句
3. India while not racking up such an impressive score beat Japan 3-0.
印度尽管没有大胜，却也以3比0击败了日本。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Japan is in the enviable position of having a budget surplus.
日本的预算盈余令人羡慕。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The president said that Japan is now a friend and international partner.
