The evolution of word usage with the Sino-Japanese word “Bakugeki”（爆撃） – The process of “Blast”, “Explode” changing to the new meaning: “bomb attack from planes”

摘要

The word “Bakugeki” （爆撃） in Japanese is a classical Chinese word and is seen in documents of the Ming dynasty. And at that time it means “Blast” and “Explode”. But From the 20th century, it changed into the new meaning of “bomb attack from planes” in modern Japanese. Likewise, In the 1920 s to 1930 s in China, this words was also used with the new meaning as the one above-mentioned. Such as “Air raid” （空中爆撃）, “bomber” （爆撃機）, so it is able to be treaded as a loanword from Japanese. But after a short time, This word was replaced with another Chinese word “轟炸”. So it was not remained in modern Chinese. Thus, this paper focused on the Sino-Chinese “Bakugeki” （爆撃）, will conduct a study of its route of exchanges between Chinese and Japanese, and research the evolution of word usage and the impact related, to solve the question of “why didn’t this word remains in modern Chinese”.