Identify surname, given name and reading fields before filling in a Japanese form.

The idea

姓 means family name and 名 means given name; 名前 may ask for the full name depending on the form. フリガナ normally asks for katakana, while ふりがな asks for hiragana. Follow the form's own instructions for name order and spelling.

Patterns to compare
FieldExample entry
姓山田
名花
フリガナヤマダ　ハナ
ふりがなやまだ　はな

Examples

  • 名前なまえを書かいてください。Please write your name.
  • 姓せいは「ヤマダ」です。The family name is Yamada.
  • 名めいは「ハナ」です。The given name is Hana.
  • 「フリガナ」はカタカナで書かきます。Write the reading in katakana in the “furigana” field.
  • 「ふりがな」はひらがなで書かきます。Write the reading in hiragana in the “furigana” field.
  • 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

Do not add さん to your own name in a form. Do not invent a kanji spelling; use the name and script requested, checking official documents where relevant.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose and fill the blank: 名前：山田 花。姓は＿。（ヤマダ／ハナ）

    Show answer or example answer

    ヤマダ

    For 山田 花, 山田 is the family name, written ヤマダ in this example.

  2. Choose and fill the blank: 名前：山田 花。名は＿。（ヤマダ／ハナ）

    Show answer or example answer

    ハナ

    For 山田 花, 花 is the given name, written ハナ in this example.

  3. Choose and fill the blank: フリガナは＿で書きます。（カタカナ／ひらがな）

    Show answer or example answer

    カタカナ

    A field labelled フリガナ conventionally requests the reading in カタカナ.

Use it today

Practise with the fictional name 山田 花: place each part in the correct field and write its reading in the requested script.