Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 身元 | mimoto | [mʲimo̞to̞] (narrow) |
| 同一性 | dōitsusei | [do̞ːit͡sɨse̞ː] (narrow) |
| アイデンティティ | aidentiti | [a̠idẽ̞ntʲitʲi] (narrow) |
| アイデンティティー | aitentitī | [a̠idẽ̞ntʲitʲiː] (narrow) |
| 主体性 | shutaisei |
Identity in Japanese is expressed through different terms depending on whether you are referring to verifiable background information, a psychological sense of self or a mathematical property of being the same.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific type of identity being discussed. 身元 refers to a person's personal background, such as their name, origin or verifiable credentials. アイデンティティ and アイデンティティー are used to describe a person's sense of self or their social and cultural identity. 同一性 is a technical term used in philosophical or mathematical contexts to denote the property of being the same or identical. While 身元 is often used in legal or formal contexts regarding personhood, 身分 is a formal term specifically referring to a person's social status, position or standing in society.
How do you pronounce it?
mimoto
Did you know?
- In Japan, if you are renting an apartment, you may need a 身元保証人 (mimoto hoshōnin), a person who acts as a guarantor to verify your identity and financial reliability.
- The term 身分 refers to a person's social standing or caste, a concept tied to the historical class system of the Edo period, which is distinct from the factual identity of 身元.
- The term 主体性 (shutaisei) is a specific way to describe identity through the lens of agency and the power to act independently.
Examples in context
- トムは身元を隠すためにマスクをしていた。Tom was wearing a mask to conceal his identity.This sentence shows how to use 身元 when discussing concealing one's identity.Tatoeba #2056746 by bunbuku, translation #1867728 by CK
- 警察はその男の身元を突きとめる事ができなかった。The police could not establish the identity of the man.This sentence demonstrates the use of 身元 in a context of establishing identity, such as by the police.Tatoeba #176225 by tommy__san, translation #238240 by CK
- 仕事によってアイデンティティを感じることができたと、彼女は言っていた。She said that her job gave her a sense of identity.This sentence uses アイデンティティ to describe a psychological sense of self derived from a job.Tatoeba #12692399 by small_snow, translation #313889 by CK
- 彼女の身分は高く、名家の出身だ。Her social status is high as she comes from a distinguished family.
- 自己を見つけるために、旅に出た。I went on a journey to find my true self.
- 彼女は自分のアイデンティティを探し続けている。She keeps searching for her own identity.
- 彼の身元はよくわからない。His background is unclear.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are talking about a missing person case.
- 蓮 Ren遺留品から、彼の身元は分かりましたか？Iryūhin kara, kare no mimoto wa wakarimashita ka?Was his identity identified from the belongings?
- 結衣 Yuiいえ、まだ身元は不明のままです。Ie, mada mimoto wa fumei no mama desu.No, his identity remains unknown.
- 蓮 Ren身元の確認ができるまで、調査は続きますね。Mimoto no kakunin ga dekiru made, chōsa wa tsudukimasu ne.The investigation will continue until his identity can be confirmed, right?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、慎重に進める必要があります。Hai, shinchō ni susumeru hitsuyō ga arimasu.Yes, we need to proceed carefully.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “identity” translations and entries 身元, 同一性, アイデンティティ, アイデンティティー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
