Originally Posted by
AlwaysAisle
Ateji (当て字) was popularly used before World War II, but after the war use of katakana became more popular and I do not think even schools teach ateji anymore. However, some of examples are:
Asia, アジア, 亜細亜
India, インド, 印度
Philippine, フィリピン, 比律賓
England, イギリス, 英吉利
Holland, オランダ, 和蘭
Paris, パリ, 巴里
Cabbage, キャベツ, 球菜
Coffee, コーヒー, 珈琲 (may still see this at coffee shops or kissaten in Japan.)
Tomato, トマト, 赤茄子
Butter, バター, 牛酪 (may see this on labels on butter)
Beer, ビール, 麦酒 (may see this on labels on beer)
Piano, ピアノ, 洋琴
Glass, ガラス, 硝子
I really do not think even natives Japanese will understand these days if signs were written in Ateji.
Very nice! I knew most of those (cabbage? The first character is for the Ryuukyuu islands, no?), but do you have a longer list of them?
Right, in Kitano, Kobe I recall seeing country names written around the former residences for foreigners, as well as on a couple of paths (one was called "Holland Slope").
Originally Posted by
Ryvyan
Ateji helped me slightly in getting around Tokyo because I know how to read (most) Chinese characters, so they are definitely around in public places though not very common. Or maybe they are kun'yomi or something?
Heh, you know "most" Chinese characters? Try adding Japanese kokuji to your lexicon just for kicks!