Word
氏名
Meaning in Englishfull name
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
It means a person’s full name used for identification. In formal contexts such as forms and records, 氏名 refers to both surname and given name together in writing.
Main meanings
- Formal term for a person’s full name used on official documents, forms, and records.
- Used in administrative, business, and legal contexts to identify an individual precisely.
- Less common in casual speech; everyday naming is usually 氏名 replaced by 名前 or お名前 in conversation.
How to use it
Used in formal writing and documentation to request or record a person’s identity; typical contexts include government forms, corporate records, and legal documents. In polite conversation you might say お名前 to ask for someone’s name, or 名前 for casual reference; for asking or recording, 氏名 is preferred in writing rather than spoken language. Example phrases: 氏名を記入してください, 氏名欄をご記入ください.
Variants and close terms
- 名字 (myouji) — family name; surname
- 苗字 (myouji) — family name; surname
- 名前 (namae) — given name or name in general, common usage
- お名前 (onamae) — polite form for asking someone's name
Composition
- 氏: family name, clan reference
- 名: name
- Combined: full name, typically written as surname first, then given name in formal contexts
Word class
noun (名詞)