Recognize 名 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, name, then learn to read it in whole words such as 名前 and 名字.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 名前（なまえ） and 名字（みょうじ）. 名 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
名前なまえname
名字みょうじfamily name; surname
有名ゆうめいfamous

Examples

  • 会社かいしゃの名前なまえをここに書かきます。I write the company’s name here.
  • 社長しゃちょうは名前なまえを書かきます。The company president writes their name.
  • ここに名字みょうじを書かいてください。Please write your family name here.
  • この店みせはとても有名ゆうめいです。This shop is very famous.
  • ここにお名前なまえを書かいてください。Please write your name here.
  • 私わたしの名前なまえはアナです。My name is Ana.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

名字 is the family name; 名前 can refer to the full name. Compare the shape of 名 with 各 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 名前 in hiragana.

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    なまえ

    名前 is read なまえ; it means name. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 名字 in hiragana.

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    みょうじ

    名字 is read みょうじ; it means family name; surname. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿字（みょうじ）.

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    名

    名 completes 名字, read みょうじ; the word means family name; surname.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 名 from memory, and read 名前 and 名字 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.