姓名

• Reading: せいめい
• Romaji: seimei
• Kanji breakdown: 姓 (sei/shou) — surname, family name; 名 (mei/na) — name, given name
• Pronunciation: /se.i.me.i/

Meaning

Full name; surname and given name combined.

A noun referring to a person's complete name: family name (姓, sei) plus given name (名, mei). Used in formal and official contexts such as documents, registration forms, and introductions. Related: 氏名 (shimei) is a near-synonym often used on government forms. In Japan, the family name comes first: 姓名の順 (seimei no jun, surname-first order).

Examples

1. 申込書に姓名をはっきり書いてください。 Please write your full name clearly on the application form.
2. 日本語では姓名の順番が英語と逆だ。 In Japanese, the order of the full name is the opposite of English.
3. 姓名判断で名前の運勢を調べる人もいる。 Some people look up the fortune of their name through name analysis.

Usage Guide

Context: official documents, registration, introductions

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Composed of 姓 (surname, with the female radical 女 reflecting matrilineal clan origins) and 名 (name). The compound dates to classical Chinese naming conventions.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal