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

HSK 7-9

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".

HSK 7-9

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.