Dave’s Wagon

Beautiful Country

American blogger in Japan Riding Sun made this post a long while back about an excellent gallery of China photos. Do yourself a favor and click though to that link because it contains some absolutely spectacular shots. The images appear to have had their saturation ramped up in Photoshop, but they are still 100% Middle Kingdom. The Chinese may call America 美国（meiguo), but it is truly their land that is the “beautiful country”.

Or wait, was that just supposed to be a phonetic approximation? Whatever. I stand by my literally interpretation.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 30th, 2006 @ 7:01 am on the category China, Photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Comments

Kevin S. says:

The website for the Chinese Embassy in the United States has the following in a documented speech:

Americans who begin to learn the Chinese language are invariably astonished to discover that the Chinese translation of the “United States of America”, Meiguo, literally means “beautiful” (mei) “country” (guo). The etymology, however, is more complex. Initially the Chinese people had dozens of names for the large land facing them from the distant shores of the Pacific Ocean. They finally settled on Meiguo, the best choice, because not only does it sound Chinese but also it inspires good feelings in all Chinese speakers as they first come to know America.

Unfortunately, the speech doesn’t go into any more detail than this.

A commenter on Language Hat says the following:

One precision: the mei in Meiguo 美国 comes from Yameilijia 亚美利加, which is a transcription of the name “America” (Meizhou 美洲 is the American continent). Most names of the big Western countries have been abbreviated that way: Falanxi > Faguo (France), Yinggelan > Yingguo (England, in this case the whole UK), Eluosi > Eguo (Russia), etc.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 7:50 am
JING says:

Do you enjoy the wonderful present your mom gave to you, these spectacular in China? And the happiest thing is you will get to see some of them very soon. I do envy you, cause i haven’t been some of the places where you are going to.
Actually, that is phonetic approximation to translate America to 美国. But you can remember it whatever way you want and your country is beautiful too. The week i spent in your hometown is my happiest time in US so far, i really enjoy the beautiful view there and I really appreciate your invitation.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 2:56 pm
Dave says:

Jing, you’ll probably have seen more of America than most Americans by the time you head back to China. I’ve never been to New York City myself.

I must say, your English has progressed wonderfully as well.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 4:12 pm
Blue Skies says:

Beautiful photos! I’m very excited about upcoming visit to China. BTW, I’ve never been to New York City either. Been close, but we decided to drive to the Atlantic coast in Jersey instead of getting lost in NYC that night.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 11:45 pm
SH says:

Those pictures were amazing!
↓ Quote | Posted July 31, 2006, 11:06 pm

Beautiful Country

Or wait, was that just supposed to be a phonetic approximation? Whatever. I stand by my literally interpretation.

5 Comments

Kevin S. says:

The website for the Chinese Embassy in the United States has the following in a documented speech:

Americans who begin to learn the Chinese language are invariably astonished to discover that the Chinese translation of the “United States of America”, Meiguo, literally means “beautiful” (mei) “country” (guo). The etymology, however, is more complex. Initially the Chinese people had dozens of names for the large land facing them from the distant shores of the Pacific Ocean. They finally settled on Meiguo, the best choice, because not only does it sound Chinese but also it inspires good feelings in all Chinese speakers as they first come to know America.

Unfortunately, the speech doesn’t go into any more detail than this.

A commenter on Language Hat says the following:

One precision: the mei in Meiguo 美国 comes from Yameilijia 亚美利加, which is a transcription of the name “America” (Meizhou 美洲 is the American continent). Most names of the big Western countries have been abbreviated that way: Falanxi > Faguo (France), Yinggelan > Yingguo (England, in this case the whole UK), Eluosi > Eguo (Russia), etc.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 7:50 am
JING says:

Do you enjoy the wonderful present your mom gave to you, these spectacular in China? And the happiest thing is you will get to see some of them very soon. I do envy you, cause i haven’t been some of the places where you are going to.
Actually, that is phonetic approximation to translate America to 美国. But you can remember it whatever way you want and your country is beautiful too. The week i spent in your hometown is my happiest time in US so far, i really enjoy the beautiful view there and I really appreciate your invitation.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 2:56 pm
Dave says:

Jing, you’ll probably have seen more of America than most Americans by the time you head back to China. I’ve never been to New York City myself.

I must say, your English has progressed wonderfully as well.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 4:12 pm
Blue Skies says:

Beautiful photos! I’m very excited about upcoming visit to China. BTW, I’ve never been to New York City either. Been close, but we decided to drive to the Atlantic coast in Jersey instead of getting lost in NYC that night.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 11:45 pm
SH says:

Those pictures were amazing!
↓ Quote | Posted July 31, 2006, 11:06 pm

Beautiful Country

5 Comments

Leave a reply

Beautiful Country

5 Comments

Leave a reply