名: the kanji for name
名 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means name. Below are its readings, 15 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
名 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
名 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 13 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
メイ (mei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 氏名しめい · shimei | full name |
| 有名ゆうめい · yūmei | famous |
| 名刺めいし · meishi | business card |
| 名簿めいぼ · meibo | list of names |
| 署名しょめい · shomei | signature |
| 三名さんめい · sanmei | three people (formal) |
| 名所めいしょ · meisho | famous place |
| 名物めいぶつ · meibutsu | local specialty |
ミョウ (myou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 名字みょうじ · myōji | family name |
| 本名ほんみょう · honmyō | real name |
| 大名だいみょう · daimyō | feudal lord |
な (na)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 名前なまえ · namae | name |
| 名札なふだ · nafuda | name tag |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 名, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 仮名かな · kana | kana (the Japanese syllabic scripts) |
| 名残なごり · nagori | trace; lingering feeling |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 名刺をお渡しします。Meishi o owatashi shimasu.Here is my business card.
- こちらに氏名をご記入ください。Kochira ni shimei o gokinyū kudasai.Please write your full name here.
- 三名で予約しました。Sanmei de yoyaku shimashita.I made a reservation for three.
- 京都には有名なお寺がたくさんあります。Kyōto ni wa yūmei na otera ga takusan arimasu.Kyoto has many famous temples.
- 名字は何ですか。Myōji wa nan desu ka.What is your family name?
- 会議の前に名札を付けてください。Kaigi no mae ni nafuda o tsukete kudasai.Please put on your name tag before the meeting.
Questions about 名
How many strokes does 名 have?
名 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 名?
The on readings are mei (メイ), myou (ミョウ). The kun readings are na (な).
Why do restaurants count people with 名 instead of 人?
名 (mei) is a more formal counter for people. You will hear it at restaurants and hotels and in business, as in 三名様 (sanmei-sama, a party of three).
What JLPT level is 名?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
People
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 名
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.