Questions tagged [names]
名称. Names in Japanese, including how to use them and how to write them.
334
questions
-1
votes
1
answer
152
views
Grammatically speaking, is using one's own name really "speaking in the third person"?
I keep seeing this myth perpetuated in western media, that when an Asian uses their own name, they're somehow "speaking in the third person". This article on TV Tropes, the go-to source of ...
- 1,306
1
vote
1
answer
175
views
Can you use ヲ in translations of foreign names?
For example, if your name was say, William, could you write it as ヲリアム? Or would it have to be ワリアム? (I guess it could also be ウィリアム.)
0
votes
1
answer
135
views
Meaning of the name Kaiba [closed]
we have created a recognition for proactivity in my company and decided to let the employees name it. The most voted name was “Kaiba”. According to the person who proposed it, Kaiba is the name of a ...
6
votes
1
answer
477
views
Is this all part of a name or is part of it a title/moniker?
I'm working on a personal translation of a oneshot manga and there is a character who is introduced like this:
I've been translating the family's surname as Medeshima but the first name feels too ...
- 175
0
votes
1
answer
80
views
What is the reading of a name that does not use the onyomi or kunyomi?
In some anime and manga, the names of characters have nothing to do with the onyomi or kunyomi of the kanji. How can they be read that way?
Eg: 虹(なな), 星空(なさ)
- 47
1
vote
1
answer
135
views
Are there any Japanese surnames referring to the beech tree?
I am interested to know whether any habitational surnames (or toponyms that could viably be used as surnames) in Japan are related to the Japanese beech tree (ぶな). I have found surname etymologies ...
- 13
2
votes
2
answers
196
views
What is the expected order of family name and given name for foreigners in a 自己紹介?
This question overlaps with this one, but I am including a lot more detail that was not present in that one, so I hope it merits another look.
As everyone knows, Japanese names are given in the order ...
- 676
1
vote
1
answer
88
views
How would you say the name Shireen Durrani in japanese?
My name is Shireen Durrani and my name is Pakistani.
Would it be 『シリーン・ドゥラニ』? Or 『シリーン・ヅラニ』? Would the last name come first?
I am not very experienced in japanese so please explain
0
votes
1
answer
161
views
Combining words to make a name/nickname
I traveled to Japan last summer, and I was lucky enough to climb Mt Fuji and see the sunrise from the summit. During this trip I had given my jacket to my wife and thus didn't actually have much in ...
1
vote
1
answer
144
views
How does reading 名乗り really work?
I know the reading 名乗り is an exclusive reading for proper nouns, the question is: Is there a way to create or decide on a new 名乗り reading? Would it be possible for a name to have a "double ...
1
vote
2
answers
180
views
How to abbreviate まつゆきそう
I was trying to abbreviate this word meaning snowdrop, but I can't quite get it to work. Is it even possible?
I tried with multiple ways but it changes the whole meaning. If it matters I wanted to use ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
208
views
Etymology of the biblical イブ/イヴ as opposed to エバ, and how does the former seem to have supplanted the latter?
Edit: Just as a heads-up, some folks have said that Eve was called エバ in the Meiji period. I was fully aware of that before I asked this question. I've added relevant translations which are not ...
- 1,306
0
votes
1
answer
140
views
How to create poetic readings for names?
Can I create poetic readings for invented Japanese names? Based on [小鳥遊]{たかなし}, I would like to create the name [冷]{つめたい} with this special reading, referencing the adjective 冷たい. If I am doing ...
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What sibling terms do twins use towards each other?
If two Japanese siblings are twins, do they still use the standard "older-then or younger-than" sibling terms for each other (お兄さん/弟, お姉さん/妹), basing it on whichever twin came into existence ...
- 2,362
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Writing a Japanese name: Hiragana or Katakana
I'm writing to my Japanese friend, but I don't know the Kanji for her name. Should I use hiragana or katakana for her name when writing to her?
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
169
views
Why is「北人」pronounced 「hokuto」?
My idol's name written in kanji is 北人 (ほくと). He once said that instead of 北斗, his parent changed 斗 into 人 because its meaning is much more deeper. But since I thought「北人」should be pronounced as「...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
80
views
What is the Japanese reading of this name? [closed]
Given name: 慧敏
Apparently I need 30 characters so here are so more words to meet the count.
- 71
0
votes
1
answer
313
views
Did I create a good name for my character?
My first contact with Japanese names or their meanings was around 2021. Since then, I haven't stopped researching Japanese names. I want to create a meaningful Japanese name for my (fictional) story: ...
0
votes
1
answer
145
views
Why don't you use the particle の when stating the name of a place?
I got confused when i was asked why you dont put の in place's name. it happen when I explain the function of の particle.
can someone tell me in bunpou teki's way, why name place don't use no?
like ...
0
votes
1
answer
161
views
How to read this name "番藤茶太郎"?
Can anyone help me how to read his name and nickname?
name: 番藤茶太郎
nickname: 番茶
Checking with AI seems to give "Fujito Chataro" as name but also "Bandou Chataro" and "Bancha&...
3
votes
1
answer
193
views
Is there a particular meaning or origin to the last name 宇多田?
Japanese last names often refer to some type of location or geographical feature, but in this case I am not certain if the name has an abstract, metaphorical, or literal meaning. "Many rice ...
- 133
2
votes
1
answer
423
views
Can I convey a meaning in a name with only kana? If not, what Kanji should I use for the name "Mimi" to convey "Beautiful Ocean"?
I'm working on a logo design project and was thinking of using the name "Mimi" as I saw somewhere that it might represent "beautiful ocean".
I don't understand much about the ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
82
views
Can you suggest a name for an energy in a magic system that incorporates the kanji 真霊? [closed]
I have decided to choose a more flashy and direct title for my new work. Specifically, I am creating a magic system and I have chosen the name "Rei" (霊) for it, but I don't want to offend ...
-2
votes
1
answer
269
views
Can Kun'yomi and On'yomi be mixed? Can a distant On'yomi reading be used? [closed]
The title is pretty catchy on its own, but I'm already familiar with creating good Japanese names. I know about kanji and their meanings, but I'm at a loss. I have a few doubts. The first one: Can Kun'...
0
votes
1
answer
197
views
How to tell someone to call you by a certain name, but they're free to use whatever suffix they please?
Say my name is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but since that name is obviously nuts, they can feel free to call me by my nickname "スーパ". But I don't mean for them to just refer to me as ...
- 2,217
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How is Tsuyuri Kumin's name (五月七日くみん) read with 3 characters when it's made up of 4 kanji?
From the Chuunibyou anime, Kumin's last name is Tsuyuri (3 characters), but written as 五月七日 (4 kanji characters). How can this be? At first, I thought it might just be a chuuni thing, where you write ...
- 2,217
1
vote
0
answers
785
views
Correct Japanese spelling of ‘Redemption’ when being used as a name for a male [closed]
I am trying to find how to spell ‘Redemption’ in Japanese if I were going to use it as a name/alias.
Or if there is a wording/phrasing that means ‘Man on the path of Redemption’
Like yamabusi for ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
193
views
Name pronunciation
Are the following two words (last name "translated" to Japanese for context) pronounced the same?
ミイヨ In this case the second syllable is the katakana equivalent of I.
ミーヨ In this case it ...
2
votes
0
answers
203
views
Where can I find an exhaustive list of Ryūkyūan personal names?
According to Wikipedia, "Okinawan name", speaking about the warabi-naa 童名, the primary personal names of Ryūkyū:
A set of warabi-naa appeared in the very beginning of recorded history and ...
- 2,398
1
vote
2
answers
167
views
How are these names read?
In a recent Asahi article about changes to laws governing Japanese names, this sentence appeared:
戦争【せんそう】に突入【とつにゅう】すると、「勝【?】」「進【?】」
When the war broke out, "?" and "?" were used.
...
- 2,036
0
votes
1
answer
113
views
How do I write my (foreign) name in Japanese?
So I've been quite curious for some time as to what my name could be in Japanese.
Here's my full name: Chaima Ben Hassen (it's Tunisian).
Although i did some research and found that it was written ...
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can an odachi be called a katana?
I was arguing with a friend about the meaning of the word "katana". There are very large swords (some of them longer than 200cm) known as odachi. My friend claimed that calling them a katana ...
- 123
2
votes
1
answer
241
views
Frozen - Why is Anna transliterated as アナ not アンナ?
Frozen's Japanese name is more similar to what Frozen's original name was supposed to be: アナと雪の女王 but not アンナと雪の女王.
I tried looking up about アナ vs アンナ for Frozen, and there are a lot posts, but of ...
- 605
0
votes
0
answers
132
views
Is it possible to make a Japanese name from my Chinese name?
my name is 陳銘聲 in Chinese but i'm not sure how to convert that into a Japanese name. I know there are probably a lot of variations. But I'm just interested in the way Japanese names are created.
0
votes
2
answers
955
views
How do I say my name in japanese properly?
My name is Devin, and I don't know how I would say my name properly. Would it be デビン、デビンさん、デヴィン、デヴィンさん、便乗、or something else?
4
votes
1
answer
209
views
Name 直人 pitch accent
Since 菅直人さん's name did come up in the news a lot, I thought I was pretty familiar with the pronunciation which I thought was なおと{HLL} but I seem to have heard this name (not 菅直人さん, other 直人s) ...
- 11.5k
-4
votes
1
answer
210
views
Is this really a joke about initials F.U. ? Wait...do Japanese names have 'initials'?
Based on the Kaguya-sama case, I guess the answer is negative, but eh who knows?
In Chapter 1 of the manga The Quintessential Quintuplets, there's a part omitted from the anime where 2 of the quints, ...
- 605
5
votes
1
answer
604
views
Should I put 「名・姓」 on a business card to avoid confusion?
I'm getting some business cards made up and will have my Western name in both Latin and Katakana. I've noticed that sometimes there is a bit of confusion when I verbally tell people my name, with them ...
- 211
-1
votes
1
answer
136
views
my name is a chinese name, anyi. how would i write the 'yi' part of my name in katakana?
i know there is no "yi" katakana. i know the approximation of ying is イン but in this case it does not work. do any native speakers know how to write yi in katana?
1
vote
2
answers
216
views
Can "小畑" be read as "Emiriya", and how?
According to this entry on Jisho, the Kanji "小畑" could be read as "Emiriya" (えみりや).
However - no On'yomi, Kun'yomi, or any combination of 小 and 畑 readings I could find seem to ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
吉川線 (yoshikawa-sen) is translated as meaning "neck markings indicative of strangulation". What's the origin for this term (yoshikawa in particular)
To my knowledge, 吉川 (yoshikawa) serves only as a name. And yet, for some reason, 吉川線 ("yoshikawa lines" as it were) has the meaning of marks on the neck usually indicative of strangulation ...
- 2,217
4
votes
1
answer
325
views
織田信長 pitch accent
If I hear correctly, I think 豊臣秀吉 is とよとみひでよし{LHHHLHLL} and 明智光秀 あけちみつひで{LHHLHLL}. What about 織田信長? Is it pronounced multiple ways?
おだのぶなが{LHLHHH} 1, 2, also the top one here
おだのぶなが{LHLHLL} 3, 4, ...
- 11.5k
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
内匠 (たくみ) 金木 (かねき) - how common are these family names? [closed]
For example, https://myoji-yurai.net says
1500 people with Family Name Takumi(https://myoji-yurai.net/searchResult.htm?myojiKanji=内匠)
4600 people with Family name Kaneki (https://myoji-yurai.net/...
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
What Is Your First Impression / Perception Of These Family Names For An Anti-Hero Protagonist? [closed]
Writing a book and I want to know how the average Japanese person perceives these names, they are all supposedly family names. The character is a good guy in the story but does some bad things, like ...
0
votes
2
answers
211
views
How to translate English short i sound into katakana
I am wondering how you would translate the short i sound in words like bin, fin, thin into katakana. I am trying to translate my name which contains this sound (with a preceding r). I don't think ...
- 103
0
votes
1
answer
234
views
Foreign name writing in Katakana
I was trying to figure out how the name "Saoirse" (pronounced as /Sur-sha/) would be written in Katakana characters. I was just a bit confused, although I know that Katakana bases on the ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
107
views
What is the difference between 五大 and 五行?
Furthermore, is there a sensible way to combine either of the above with 龍 or 竜 to form a plausible given name (one that a native speaker would not find out of place) with a meaning akin to "...
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
876
views
How does last name-kun/chan compare to 1st name-san?
Let's say the person is John Smith, first name John, last Smith.
Comparing the following pairs is easy. The latter is more formal than the former.
John-kun vs John-san
Smith-kun vs Smith-san
John-kun ...
- 605
1
vote
3
answers
978
views
What's up with males named Miyuki?
Edit 1: It's like A Boy Named Sue or something.
Edit 2: Should I split this question into 2 posts so I can accept both answers? Huhuhu. I think I'll just accept 1 and bounty the other. It's a ...
- 605
4
votes
1
answer
401
views
I'm making a paint and using Japanese names for characters, Are the honorific/royal titles redundant?
Disclaimer: I'm learning Japanese language but my level is really low
I took painting as a hobby and I want to use the characters names using Katakana and Kanji. The character I'm painting is Bowsette ...
- 143