How to say "japan" in Japanese

• うるしCommon
  nounCovers the lowercase sense of 'japan', the East Asian lacquer used as a coating. Choose this only when 'japan' refers to the substance, not the country; lowercase 'japan' in English means this lacquer.
• 日本にほんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe ordinary Japanese name for the country Japan. When your English 'japan' means the nation, this is almost always the word you want, written 日本 and read にほん.
  日本にっぽんは中国ちゅうごくの東方とうほうにある。↗

  Japan is to the east of China.
• ジャパンCommon
  nounA katakana loanword for Japan. It appears in names, branding, and stylized or foreign-flavored contexts; for plain reference to the country, 日本 is the usual choice.
  ジャパン・タイムズにはその話はなしは載のっていない。↗

  The Japan Times was carrying the story.
• 東洋とうようJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA dated term glossed 'Japan', but it really means the East or the Orient as a region rather than the country specifically. Seldom the word you want for 'japan' today.
• 扶桑ふそうCommon
  nounA formal or literary name for Japan. It appears mainly in elegant or archaic writing; for everyday reference to the country, prefer 日本 and reserve 扶桑 for literary flavor.

Use 「うるし」 for the material sense 'japan' (lacquer); for the country, 日本 is the normal choice, 「ジャパン」 is a loanword rendering, while 東洋 and 扶桑 are dated or literary and rarely what you want.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• うるしEast Asian lacquer
• 日本にほんJapan
• ジャパンJapan
• 倭国わこくJapan
• 日の本ひのもとJapan
• 日本国にほんこくJapan
• ヤーパンJapan
• ジャポンJapan
• 大倭おおやまとJapan
• 中つ国なかつくにJapan
• ハポンJapan
• 扶桑国ふそうこくJapan
• イルボンJapan
• 神国しんこくland of the gods
• 皇国こうこくEmpire (of Japan)
• 瑞穂の国みずほのくにthe Land of Verdant Rice Plants
• 神州しんしゅうland of the gods
• 大和の国やまとのくにYamato
• 神の国かみのくにland of the gods
• 皇御国すめらみくにEmpire (of Japan)
• 豊葦原とよあしはらplains lush with reeds
• 大和やまと(ancient) Japan
• 和わJapan
• 東洋とうようJapan
• 日の丸ひのまるJapan
• 扶桑ふそうJapan
• 御国みくにJapan
• 敷島しきしまJapan
• ＪジェーJapan
• 大日本豊秋津洲おおやまととよあきつしまJapan
• 日にちJapan