名前
namaekanji, everyday
In kanji, "name" is 名前 (namae). Add the polite お when asking about someone else's name, as in お名前 (onamae). On forms you will see 氏名 (shimei).
Meaning: name (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 名前 | namae | kanji, everyday |
| お名前 | onamae | kanji, polite, your name |
| 氏名 | shimei | kanji, forms, full name |
お名前は何ですか (onamae wa nan desu ka) is the polite way to ask "what is your name".
Which one should you use?
氏名 (shimei) means a full name with the family name, and it appears on forms and official papers.
How does it change in a sentence?
Do not use お for your own name, so say 私の名前 (watashi no namae), not お名前, for "my name".
Did you know?
- The kanji 名前 combine 名, "name", and 前, "front".
Examples in context
- お名前は何ですか。Onamae wa nan desu ka?What is your name?
- 私の名前は田中です。Watashi no namae wa Tanaka desu.My name is Tanaka.
Example conversation
A receptionist at a clinic asks a new patient to register.
- Receptionistお名前をお願いします。Onamae o onegai shimasu.Your name, please.
- Patient田中です。Tanaka desu.It is Tanaka.
- Receptionistここに名前を書いてください。Koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your name here.
