What does the term Far East mean?
Q: What does the term Far East mean?
A: The term Far East is used to refer to countries of East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Q: When did the term become used in English?
A: The term became used in English during the period of the British Empire for lands east of British India.
Q: What was meant by Near East before World War I?
A: Before World War I, Near East referred to relatively nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire, northwestern South Asia and Central Asia, and Far East countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean.
Q: Do other European languages have similar terms for Far East?
A: Yes, other European languages have analogous terms such as French Extrême-Orient, Spanish Extremo Oriente, Portuguese Extremo Oriente, German Ferner Osten, Italian Estremo oriente, and Dutch Verre Oosten.
Q: Is Far East ever used for Australia or New Zealand?
A: No, Far East is never used for Australia or New Zealand which lie even farther east than much of East Asia.
