名簿

• Reading: めいぼ
• Romaji: meibo
• Kanji breakdown: 名 (mei) — name; 簿 (bo) — register, ledger, book
• Pronunciation: /meː.bo/

Meaning

Name list; register; roster; directory of names and associated information.

A noun referring to an organised list of names, often with additional details such as addresses or affiliations. Used in schools (出席名簿 — attendance register), organisations (会員名簿 — member directory), and official contexts (選挙人名簿 — electoral roll). Handling of 名簿 is now closely tied to personal information protection laws in Japan.

Examples

1. クラスの名簿を見て出席を確認した。 I checked attendance by looking at the class register.
2. 会員名簿の情報は個人情報として厳重に管理される。 The information in the member directory is strictly managed as personal data.
3. 名簿に名前が載っていないと入場できません。 If your name is not on the roster, you cannot enter.

Usage Guide

Context: school, organisations, administration, events

Tone: matter-of-fact

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 名 (mei, name) + 簿 (bo, register/book). Literally 'name register,' where 簿 specifically denotes an official record book or ledger.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal