japani

Japani is a term that appears in some languages to refer to Japan, its people, or its language. It is not the standard English name for these concepts, and its exact meaning varies by language and context. In English, the corresponding terms are 'Japan' for the country and 'Japanese' for the people or the language.

Usage of Japani can range from neutral to archaic or regionally specific. In some languages it functions as a straightforward ethnonym or adjectival form, while in others it may be found primarily in older texts or in particular dialects. Contemporary reference works in English generally avoid Japani in favor of 'Japanese'.

Etymology and variants: Japani reflects a pattern of exonyms for Japan that circulated in some languages during the early modern period. The English forms Japan and Japanese emerged from these exonyms, while Japani appears only in limited, language-specific contexts today. The word's acceptability and sense are language dependent.

See also: Japan; Japanese language; Japanese people; Exonyms for Japan.