1.
Yamato, ancient Japan
The ancient name for Japan, or more specifically the Yamato region (present-day Nara Prefecture) where the early Japanese state was centered. Also refers to Japan as a whole in a classical or patriotic sense.
大和は日本の古い呼び名だ。
Yamato is an old name for Japan.
大和朝廷は古代の日本を統一した。
The Yamato court unified ancient Japan.
戦艦大和は日本海軍最大の軍艦だった。
The battleship Yamato was the largest warship in the Japanese navy.
2.
Japanese, traditional Japanese
Used as a prefix to indicate something traditionally or authentically Japanese, often in contrast to foreign or Chinese-origin elements.
大和言葉は日本語固有の語彙だ。
Yamato kotoba are the native Japanese vocabulary.
大和撫子は日本の女性の理想像を表す言葉だ。
Yamato nadeshiko is a term that represents the ideal image of a Japanese woman.
大和魂とは、日本人の精神や気質を指す言葉だ。
Yamato damashii is a term referring to the Japanese spirit or temperament.
READING NOTE:
This is an irregular reading (熟字訓). The kanji 大 and 和 normally read だいわ, but together as a place name they are read やまと.
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 大和言葉: native Japanese words (as opposed to Sino-Japanese)
- 大和撫子: ideal Japanese woman; also the name for a pink flower
- 大和魂: Japanese spirit
- 大和朝廷: Yamato court (ancient Japanese government)
- 大和民族: Yamato people (ethnic Japanese)
CULTURAL NOTE:
The Yamato region (present-day Nara) was the political center of early Japan. The term carries strong cultural and historical connotations. 大和言葉 is an important linguistic concept referring to native Japanese vocabulary as distinct from Chinese-derived (漢語) and Western loanwords (外来語).