Chinese noodles
"Soba" is occasionally used to refer to noodles in general. In Japan, ramen is traditionally called "chūka soba "(中華そば) or, before the end of the Second World War, "shina soba" (支那そば). Both of these mean "Chinese noodles", though the word "shina "was replaced by "chūka" because the Chinese considered the former term offensive. Parboiled "chūka soba" is stir-fried to make yakisoba. The name "ramen" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese "lamian" (拉麺). "Mazesoba" (also called "abura soba" or "Taiwan mazesoba") is another ramen based dish. Note that these noodles do not contain buckwheat. In this context, 'soba' noodles proper are called "nihon soba" (日本蕎麦, 'Japanese soba') as opposed to "chūka soba".