名 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

名: name; fame; reputation. JLPT N5; 6 strokes.

Readings

On readings

メイ、ミョウ

Kun readings

な

Romaji

mei, myou, na

Study notes

名 means 'name' and, by extension, 'fame, celebrated'.

On readings: メイ in 有名 (ゆうめい, famous), 名人 (めいじん, master, expert), 名作 (めいさく, masterpiece), 名刺 (めいし, business card), 名詞 (めいし, noun), 氏名 (しめい, full name). ミョウ in 名字 (みょうじ, surname), 本名 (ほんみょう, real name), 大名 (だいみょう, feudal lord).

Kun reading: な, 'name': 名前 (なまえ, name), 名札 (なふだ, name tag), 宛名 (あてな, addressee on an envelope), あだ名 (あだな, nickname). 名乗る (なのる) means 'to say one's name, to introduce oneself'.

Special readings: 仮名 is read かな (the kana syllabaries) or かめい (pseudonym); 平仮名 (ひらがな) and 片仮名 (かたかな) are the two syllabaries.

Remember: 名前 (なまえ) is the common word for 'name'; 名字 (みょうじ) indicates the surname only and 氏名 (しめい), frequent in forms, indicates name and surname together.

Example words

• 名前 (なまえ) — name
• 有名 (ゆうめい) — famous; well-known
• 名字 (みょうじ) — surname

Example sentences

お名前は何ですか。

onamae wa nan desu ka.

What is your name?

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.