倭 (wō): (old) an ancient Chinese name f…

Meanings

1 (old) an ancient Chinese name for Japan
2 (old, derogatory) dwarf

Characters

倭

wō

(old) an ancient Chinese name for Japan

Examples

明朝时把沿海海盗称为倭寇。

Míngcháo shí bǎ yánhǎi hǎidào chēngwéi wō kòu.

In the Ming dynasty coastal pirates were called "wokou".

倭是中国古代对日本的称呼。

Wō shì Zhōngguó gǔdài duì Rìběn de chēnghu.

"Wo" was an old Chinese name for Japan.

Tips

history

From Han through Tang times China called Japan 倭. It later took on a contemptuous tone, surviving mainly in 倭寇 (the Ming-era Japanese pirate raiders). Because of that history the word is offensive today and is not used as a neutral term for Japan or Japanese people.