日本
nihonproper noun★Beginner
formal
Japan (the country)
私は日本に住んでいます。
I live in Japan.
日本は美しい国です。
Japan is a beautiful country.
💡
Refers to the island nation of Japan, located in East Asia.
Collocations
日本語Japanese language日本人Japanese person日本文化Japanese culture
Synonyms
Related Phrases
日本へ行きたいphrase
I want to go to Japan
日本は安全だphrase
Japan is safe
💡Pro Tip
Geographical Context
Japan is an archipelago consisting of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
⚡Gold Rule
Proper Noun Usage
Always capitalize '日本' when referring to the country in formal writing.
📖Word Origin
Composed of '日' (sun) and '本' (origin), literally meaning 'origin of the sun' (Land of the Rising Sun).
📝Usage Notes
Used formally and informally to refer to the country of Japan. Often abbreviated as '日' in contexts where brevity is preferred.
Word Breakdown
日
sun
root本
origin
root✎ Noted on May 2, 2026JA → EN