姓
sei[ka̠ba̠ne̞]
The Japanese word for 'surname' is 姓 (sei) or 名字.
Meaning: name that indicates family (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 姓 | sei | [ka̠ba̠ne̞] (narrow) [se̞ː] (narrow) |
| 名字 | myōji | [mʲo̞ːʑi] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to a name that indicates one's family. When addressing people, it is common to add the honorific san after a surname to show respect. This honorific is gender-neutral. In informal situations, it is common to drop the surname and use only the person's given name.
Which one should you use?
名字 is the standard, everyday word for 'surname' or 'family name' used in conversation. The kanji 苗字 is also frequently used to write the same word for 'surname'. In contrast, 姓 is a more formal or technical term often used in official documents or academic contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
sei
Did you know?
- There is a strange phonetic similarity between the word for 'surname' and the ancient Japanese word for 'corpse', known as kabane. This connection stems from the shared 'bone' imagery in historical linguistic theories.
- Until the Meiji era in the late 19th century, having a 名字 was a privilege reserved for nobility and samurai, while commoners generally did not have official surnames.
- One theory suggests that the components of the word for 'surname' could represent 'stock' and 'root'. This would frame a family name as the literal 'root' of a person's identity.
Examples in context
- 私の名字は王です。My surname is 'Wang.'This sentence is useful for stating your surname using 名字.Tatoeba #10038360 by small_snow, translation #3747525 by karloelkebekio
- 名字は何とお読みするのでしょうか？How is your surname pronounced?This sentence is useful for asking how a surname is pronounced using 名字.Tatoeba #12779124 by bunbuku, translation #3695384 by MTC
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki is helping Hiroto fill out an official form.
- 美咲 Misakiここに姓を書いてください。koko ni sei o kaite kudasai.Please write your surname here.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、わかりました。hai, wakari mashita.Yes, I understand.
- 美咲 Misaki次は名前をお願いします。tsugi wa namae o onegai shimasu.Next, your given name please.
- 大翔 Hirotoこれで全部ですね。kore de zenbu desu ne.That is everything, right?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “surname” translations and entries 姓, 名字, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 姓, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
