What Does Mitsubishi Mean? Japanese Logo History
The name Mitsubishi translates directly from Japanese into English as Three Diamonds (or Three Rhombuses / Water Chestnuts). The name is a linguistic compound formed by combining the Japanese word mitsu (meaning three) and hishi (a term denoting a diamond or rhombus shape, originally named after the rhombic seed pod of the aquatic water chestnut plant). Under the rules of Japanese phonology known as rendaku (sequential voicing), when the unvoiced 'h' consonant in hishi follows an earlier syllable, it softens into a voiced 'b' sound, transforming mitsu-hishi into the world-renowned brand name Mitsubishi.