LogFAQs > #980033159

Scotty_Rogers posted...

I know it's the literal translation. My point is that it doesn't make sense to say "white paper" in English. It contextually means report, file, record, log, document, etc so it's better to just use that to get the message and nuance across. And even the article you posted says this

Strictly speaking, they are collectively known as "white documents."

It's like how the Chinese term Qi ( Ki in Japanese) literally means "air" but it's come to refer to the vital force or energy in our bodies. If you just went with the literal translation of air, most people wouldn't understand

I still don't really get what you mean here.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper

A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper is the first document researchers should read to better understand a core concept or idea. Since the 1990s, this type of document has proliferated in business. Today, a business-to-business (B2B) white paper is closer to a marketing presentation, a form of content meant to persuade customers and partners and promote a certain product or viewpoint.[1][2][3] That makes B2B white papers a type of grey literature.

The term originated in the 1920s to mean a type of position paper or industry report published by a department of the UK government.

The Japanese word is just translated from English. I couldn't find that quote you posted either.