For pronunciation and definitions of 台湾 – see 臺灣 (“Taiwan; etc.”). (This term is the simplified form of 臺灣). |
Notes:
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Kanji in this term | |
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台 | 湾 |
たい Grade: 2 |
わん Grade: S |
kan'on |
Alternative spelling |
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臺灣 (kyūjitai) |
Borrowed from Literary Chinese 臺灣, which came from Hokkien 大員 (Tāi-oân), 大圓, 臺員, 大灣, 臺灣, etc., a placename initially referring to a sandbank peninsula that later silted up now wholly part of the island in the area of modern-day Anping District, Tainan, and eventually became the name of the entire island. The original placename itself was likely originally a loanword transcription from possibly Siraya. Compare Dutch Tayouan, Mandarin 臺灣 / 台湾 (Táiwān).