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Tropical Cyclone
Advisories & Warnings
 Western North Pacific
 Ocean and South
 China Sea
This web site is operated
on behalf of WMO by

Hong Kong Observatory
of Hong Kong, China.
The Meaning of Tropical Cyclone Names
 
Contributed By
 
 
      Cambodia
 
Name Meaning
Nakri A kind of flower
Krovanh A kind of tree
Maysak A kind of tree
Krosa Crane
Trases Woodpecker
Ampil The name of a kind of tropical fruit
Damrey Elephant
Nesat Fishing
Kong-rey Pretty girl in Khmer legend/The name of mountain
Chanthu A kind of flower
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      China
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Yinxing - A kind of tree native to China
Wukong wu-kong The King of the monkeys. In the classical novel Journey to the West , he escorted the Tang Dynasty monk, Xuanzang, on a journey to India in search of the Buddhist scriptures. In the course of numerous hardships on the road, Wukong subdued one monster after another.
Dujuan du-juan Azalea.
Haikui hai-kui Sea anemones. Marine animals resembling flowers.
Haishen hai-shen The God of the Sea. Traditionally, sailors and fishermen would offer sacrifices to this god for safe voyages before they set sail or when they encountered stormy weather.
Dianmu dian-mu Mother of Lightning. The goddess in charge of thunder and lightning.
Fengshen feng-shen The God of Wind.
Mulan - Magnolia, a kind of flower native to China.
Bailu bai-lu A white deer, which stands for auspiciousness in Chinese language
Haitang hai-tang The Chinese flowering crabapple.
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      DPR Korea
 
Name Meaning
Surigae A kind of eagles
Jongdari Skylark.
Podul Tree usually found in the towns and countries. In the sultry weather people take rest and enjoy chatting under the shadow of Podul (Willow).
Toraji Beautiful flower which blooms unnoticed, usually found in deep mountains of Korea, for its usefulness as food and medicine.
Nalgae It (Wing) means flying, dynamic and free motion.
Kalmaegi Bird (Sea gull) usually found wherever in the sea, which is an emblem of sea.
Kirogi Migrating bird (Wild goose), the flock of which comes in Autumn to Korea and flies in early spring to the far North. Their appearance in Korea every year resembles Typhoon habit.
Meari It (Echo) means that once Typhoon forms, the Typhoon Committee's notification echoes over to its members.
Noul Glows, Red Sky.
Mindulle Small and yellow flower (Dandelion) which blooms in the field when spring comes, almost in the same time, which represents simple and gentle minds of Korean women.
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      Hong Kong, China
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Fung-wong fung-wong Phoenix, also the name of a peak in Hong Kong.
Ma-on ma-on Horse saddle , also the name of a peak in Hong Kong.
Shanshan sarn-sarn A fairly common pet name for young girls.
Dolphin dol-fin Chinese White Dolphins living in Hong Kong waters, also a mascot of Hong Kong.
Lingling ling-ling A fairly common pet name for young girls.
Banyan ban-yan A tree commonly found in the southern part of China.
Man-yi mun-yi Name of a strait originally. With the construction of a dam, that part of the sea has become a reservoir.
Yun-yeung - A species of duck (Aix galericulata), also the vernacular name of a popular drink in Hong Kong prepared by mixing tea with coffee
Choi-wan choi-wun("un" as in "under") Colorful cloud, also the name of a housing estate in Hong Kong.
Lionrock lie-un-rock Name of a peak in Hong Kong which overlooks Kowloon Peninsula.
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      Japan
 
Name Meaning
Koinu Canis Minor; puppy
Yagi Capricornus (goat)
Usagi Lepus (rabbit)
Kajiki* Dorado (spearfish)
Koto Lyra; harp
Kujira* Cetus (whale)
Koguma Ursa Minor
Kompasu Circinus (compass: a V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs)
Tokage Lacerta (lizard)
Yamaneko Lynx; cat that lives in mountains and forests
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      LAO PDR
 
Name Meaning
Leepi The most beautiful waterfall in southern Lao.
Pabuk Big fresh water fish
Chan-hom A kind of tree
Hinnamnor A National Protected Area in Lao PDR
Nokaen A kind of bird, swallow
Nongfa A lake in Lao PDR, meaning blue lake
Bolaven Plateau
Champi Waxy flower with a sweet scent
Namtheun River
Pakhar A fresh water fish which lives in lower Mekong River.
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      Macao, China
 
Name Meaning
Peilou A common migratory bird in Macao
Muifa Plum blossom, flower that can grow in very cold weather. It represents a strong-minded Chinese.
Peipah A popular pet fish in Macao.
Sanba Placename in Macao.
Sanvu Coral, it is a hard substance often used for jewellery, formed by the skeletons of tiny sea animals, massed together in great numbers. Many Macao souvenirs are made of it.
Malou Agate, it is a very hard stone with bands of color and often used for ornaments. Many Macao souvenirs are made of it.
Wutip Butterfly, it is an insect with four broad, colorful wings. You can find different kinds of butterfly in the countryside of Macao islands during Spring and Summer.
Penha Penha Hill is one of the Macao New Eight Scenic Spots
In-fa Fireworks.
Bebinca Macanese Milk Pudding, favorite Macanese food found in Portuguese restaurants of Macao.
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      Malaysia
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Jelawat jer-la-wa-t Also known as Sultan fish. This fresh-water carp fish is normally found in big rivers. It is a very tasty fish and very much sought after by gourmets.
Mawar ma-wa-r Rose, a common garden plant, with bigger-sized varieties found in the highlands of Malaysia.
Cempaka - Plant that known for its fragrant flowers.
Nyatoh - A kind of wood growing in rainforest environment in southeast Asia
Merbok mer-bok A spotted-necked dove, most commonly found in the rural areas and on wasteland, is a popular caged bird by the local inhabitants of Malaysia.
Nangka nang-ka Also known as Jackfruit. This oval-shaped, yellow fruit is very popular in Malaysia.
Pulasan - A popular fruit in Southeast Asia for its juicy and sweet taste
Nuri - Blue crowned parroquet in the Malay language.
Sepat se-pa-t A fresh water fish with small climbing perch, is often found in rivers, swampy areas with a lot of weeds and paddy fields.
Tapah ta-pa-h This giant fresh water catfish is the largest Malaysian fresh-water fish.
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      Micronesia
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Sinlaku SIN-la-kou Legendary Kosrae Goddess
Nepartak knee-PAR-tack Famous Kosrae warrior
Saudel - Legendary Pohnpei Chief Soudelor's trusted guard/soldie
Ewiniar* EE-win-yar Chuuk traditional storm God
Mun Moon Yapese for month of June
Mitag ME-tok "My eyes", a Yapese woman's name
Soulik SOW-lick Traditional Pohnpei Chief's title
Nanmadol nan-MA-dol A famous Pohnpei ruin, the "Venice of the Pacific"
Rai - The stone money of Yap
Guchol goo-CHOL Yapese word for the spice Tumeric
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      Philippines
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Maliksi - Filipino adjective which means fast.
Cimaron SEE-MAH-RON Philippine wild ox
Danas DAH-NAS To experience; to feel
Ragasa - Rapid or fast motion
Hagupit HA-GOO-PEET Lash; flog
Narra - A species of tree; Pterocarpus indicus
Lupit LOO-PEET Cruel; viciousness
Malakas MAH-LAH-KAS Strong; powerful
Talas TAH-LAS Sharpness; acuteness
Talim TAH-LEEM Sharp or cutting edge
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      Republic of Korea
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Jebi je-bi
A swallow.
A small bird with long wings and a forked tail that eats insects, which visits Korea in Spring
Neoguri neo-gu-ri
A raccoon dog; a cunning animal.
A small grayish-brown animal with black markings on its face and its thick furry tail.
Gaemi* gae-mi
An ant.
A very small insect that lives in highly organized groups. It often appears in Korean fairy tales as a symbol of diligence.
Gaenari -
A spring flowering shrub with yellow flowers;
Forsythias
Megi me-gi
A catfish.
A large fish found mainly in rivers, lakes, etc, with long whiskers round its mouth. It is related to the feelings of getting wet.
Doksuri -
A bird of prey.
Nari na-ri
A lily.
A kind of plant which grows from a bulb, with large white or colored flowers, commonly found in Korea in summer.
Noru no-ru
A roe deer; a kind animal.
A type of small deer living in the wild forest.
Jangmi jang-mi
A rose; symbol of fashion.
A sweet-smelling flower that grows on a bush and usually has thorns on its stems.
Mirinae -
Milky Way.
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      Thailand
 
Name Meaning
Kulap Rose
Prapiroon God of rain
Khanun Thai fruit (Jackfruit)
Krathon A kind of fruit; santol
Mekkhala Angel of thunder
Chaba Tropical flower (the shoeflower, genus Hibicus)
Atsani Lightning flash
Wipha Name of woman
Nida Name of woman
Bualoi A kind of Thai dessert
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      USA
 
Name Pronunciation Meaning
Barijat Bah REE jat Marshallese for "coastal areas impacted by waves/winds"
Aere - Marshallese word for "storm"
Matmo - Heavy rain
Omais OH-mice Palauan word for "wandering around"
Etau A-tau Palauan word for "storm cloud"
Higos HEE-gos Chamorro word for the fruit "fig"
Roke row-KEE Chamorro man's name
Francisco FRAN-cis-co Chamorro man's name
Maria MA-ree-ah Chamorro woman's name
Lan Lang Marshallese for "storm"
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      Viet Nam
 
Name Meaning
Saola A rare precious species of animal recently found in the western part of Hatinh province (Central Viet Nam) and is "protected" in Viet Nam.
Sonca A kind of singing bird with beautiful twittering, lives in mountainous areas.
Trami A kind of tree belonging to the rose family, its flowers are pink or red without perfume, is used as decorative tree.
Son-Tinh God of mountain in Vietnamese myth.
Co-may A species of grass, Chrysopogon Aciculatus
Bavi A mountain chain in Hatay province (about 40 km west of Hanoi) with its peak of 1281 m, where there is a national forest.
Conson A picturesque place of Haihung province, consists of mountain, pine forest, streams, temples, pagodas and many historical monuments.
Songda A branch of the Red river (the biggest one in northern Viet Nam) which originates from China, is characterized by falls and waterfalls with high hydroelectric potential.
Bang-lang A species of flowering tree;Lagerstroemia speciosa
Halong A famous picturesque place in Viet Nam which was claimed heritage by UNESCO, lies in the Bacbo Gulf and consists of more than 1,000 isles, most of them are limestone islands.
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* Spelling slightly modified at the request of the originating country
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