Word
姓名
Meaning in Englishfull name
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Sentence
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Word context
What it means
What does 姓名 mean? It means a person's full name—the family name (surname) and given name presented together, typically used on forms, records, and in formal introductions.
Main meanings
- synonyms and formal usage: 氏名 (しめい, shimei) is a formal synonym often used in official documents
- contrast with casual speech: 名前 (なまえ, namae) is more common in everyday conversation, while 姓名 emphasizes the full, official name
- scope of reference: refers to both surname and given name together, not just one part
How to use it
Used in formal contexts such as official forms, identification, and legal documents; indicates a person's full name rather than the given name alone; in everyday conversation 名前 is more common.
Variants and close terms
- 氏名 (しめい, shimei) — formal synonym
- 名字 (みょうじ, myouji) — family name or surname; often used in official contexts
- 名前 (なまえ, namae) — given name; related concept used in casual speech
Composition
- 姓: family name or surname, indicating lineage
- 名: given name, identifying the individual
Etymology
A Sino-Japanese compound read as せいめい (sei-mei), formed by 姓 and 名; the on'yomi pronunciation reflects Chinese influence on Japanese vocabulary (sei-mei).
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N3
名刺
meishi
business card, name card
N3
名詞
meishi
noun, grammatical noun
N3
名人
meijin
master, expert, specialist
N3
題名
daimei
title, name of a work
N3
名
na
name, reputation
N5
片仮名
katakana
katakana, Japanese syllabary
N5
名前
namae
name
N5
平仮名
hiragana
hiragana, basic Japanese syllabary
N5
有名
yuumei
famous, well-known
Kanji