Why use 非 and 亚 for continent names?

Question

Why was 非 chosen for 非洲 (Africa) and 亚 chosen for 亚洲 (Asia)?

I can't find a particular reason to use these characters.

+1: I have wondered the same thing. Surely they could have used similar-sounding characters with more auspicious meanings.

Alenanno · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-20 10:14:55Z

up vote 13 down vote accepted

亚洲 is short for 亚细亚洲 while 非洲 is short for 阿非利加州.

edited Jan 20 '12 at 10:14

Alenanno♦
2,6721827

answered Jan 20 '12 at 3:47

Terry Li
955410

1

Great source, thanks! – xiaohouzi79♦ Jan 20 '12 at 3:59

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