Japanese word

東洋

Pronunciation

Romajitōyō

Meaning

  • nounEast Asia

Example

東洋の文化を学びます。tō yō no bun ka o mana bi ma su

I study East Asian culture.

Illustration for 東洋 (East Asia)

More examples

この本は東洋と西洋の考え方を比べています。ko no hon wa tō yō to sei yō no kanga e kata o kura be te i ma su

This book compares Eastern and Western ways of thinking.

Core concept

Describes the eastern part of Asia as a connected geographic and cultural region rather than a single country.

Common phrases

  • 東洋の料理tō yō no ryō ri

    East Asian cuisine

  • 東洋の建築tō yō no ken chiku

    Eastern architecture

  • 東洋と西洋の文化tō yō to sei yō no bun ka

    Eastern and Western cultures

Similar words

東アジアhigashiajia: The eastern region of Asia, including Japan, China, and the Korean Peninsula.
オリエントoriento: An older term for Asian lands and cultures viewed from Europe.

Definition in Japanese

アジアの東部にある中国・朝鮮半島・日本などを含む地域。a ji a no tō bu ni a ru chū goku chō sen han tō nihon na do o fuku mu chi iki

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 東洋 (tōyō, "eastern ocean") combines 東 (tō, "east") and 洋 (yō, "ocean") for lands across the eastern sea.

Usage tips

  • In modern English, East Asia is usually more neutral and precise than the older term the Orient, which can sound dated or othering.

Other meanings

  • the Eastnoun
  • the Orientnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 東洋的tōyōtekiEasternna-adjective

Word lists with this word