The most common and widely used name for Vietnam in Japanese today is ベトナム (Betonamu).
How Vietnam is Referred to in Japanese
Following Vietnam's independence, the Japanese language adopted ベトナム (Betonamu), written in the katakana script, as the standard name for the country. This name is a phonetic transcription of "Vietnam".
Historical Context
Before the adoption of ベトナム, other names were used:
- 安南 (Annan): Historically used, particularly referring to parts of modern-day Vietnam.
- 越南 (Etsunan): Another historical name.
According to the provided reference, these older names, Annan (安南) and Etsunan (越南), were largely replaced by Betonamu (ベトナム) after Vietnam's independence.
Use of Older Names Today
While Betonamu is the primary name, the older form 越 (Etsu), derived from 越南, is still encountered. The reference highlights that the old form is still seen in compound words.
Example:
- 訪越 (Hō-Etsu): This term means "a visit to Vietnam". Here, the character 越 (Etsu) represents Vietnam, combined with 訪 (Hō), meaning "to visit".
Summary of Japanese Names for Vietnam
| Name | Japanese Script | Type | Usage Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betonamu | ベトナム | Phonetic (Katakana) | Current, Primary |
| Annan | 安南 | Historical | Largely replaced |
| Etsunan | 越南 | Historical | Largely replaced |
| Etsu (in compounds) | 越 | Derived from Etsunan | Used in compound words |
Understanding these different names provides insight into the evolution of how Vietnam is referred to in Japanese, from historical sinocentric terms to a modern phonetic transcription.
