yezo
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. Yezo: The second largest of the four main islands of Japan; located to the north of Honshu. It is the historical and geographical name for the island now officially known as Hokkaido.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the 19th century, the Japanese government began a systematic colonization of Yezo.
- The Ainu people are the indigenous inhabitants of Yezo.
- The modern name for the island of Yezo is Hokkaido.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Geographical Context: The term "Yezo" is primarily used in historical, anthropological, or older geographical texts to refer to the island before its official renaming and development as Hokkaido in the modern era.
- Early European maps often labeled the northern Japanese island as "Yezo" or "Ezo".
Variants and Related Words
- Hokkaido (n): The current official name for the island previously known as Yezo. It is Japan's northernmost prefecture.
- Ezo (n): An alternative historical romanization for "Yezo," referring to the same island and its indigenous Ainu population.
Synonyms
- Hokkaido: (The modern synonym, used in all contemporary contexts.)
- Ezo: (A historical synonym with the same referent.)
Notes on Usage
- "Yezo" is an archaic term. In modern English writing and discourse, the island is exclusively referred to as Hokkaido. Using "Yezo" typically signals a discussion of pre-modern Japanese history or specific historical contexts.
Noun
- the second largest of the four main islands of Japan; to the north of Honshu