man'yōgana

noun

The early Japanese syllabary using Chinese characters to represent Japanese sounds: the predecessor of hiragana and katakana.

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Meanings

nounman'yōgana (uncountable)

alternative manyogana

  1. uncountableThe early Japanese syllabary using Chinese characters to represent Japanese sounds: the predecessor of hiragana and katakana.
nounman'yōgana (plural man'yōgana)

alternative manyogana

  1. broadlyA man'yōgana character.

Origin

From Japanese 万(まん)葉(よう)仮(が)名(な) (man'yōgana).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 萬葉假名 /万叶假名
  • 萬葉假名 /万叶假名 (wànyè jiǎmíng)predecessor of hiragana and katakana
Japanese 万葉仮名
  • 万葉仮名 (man'yōgana)predecessor of hiragana and katakana
Korean 만요가나
  • 만요가나 (manyogana)predecessor of hiragana and katakana
Polish man'yōgana, znak man'yōgany
  • man'yōganapredecessor of hiragana and katakana
  • znak man'yōganya man'yōgana character
Russian манъёга́на
  • манъёга́на (manʺjogána)predecessor of hiragana and katakana

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with man'yōgana

MontanaBotswanaghanaanadanaGuyananirvanaAmericanamanananaTijuanaiguanacabanapranaTiranaarcanakanaohanayanaAfricanabrewerianaDisneyanakatakanaliana
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

man'yōgana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/man'y%C5%8Dgana

MLA

“man'yōgana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/man'y%C5%8Dgana. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “man'yōgana,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/man'y%C5%8Dgana.

Source: man'yōgana on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.