名
name · noted · distinguished · reputation
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '夕' (evening) and '口' (mouth). Identifiable by calling name in dark.
Symbolism
Name, honor, reputation. Represents proof of existence in 'leaving one's name'.
Component Breakdown
evening + mouth
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
大義名分
たいぎめいぶん
just cause; good reason; pretext
有名無実
ゆうめいむじつ
in name but not in reality
名所旧跡
めいしょきゅうせき
places of scenic beauty and historical interest
名論卓説
めいろんたくせつ
excellent opinions and theories
襲名披露
しゅうめいひろう
announcing the succession to another's stage name
名誉挽回
めいよばんかい
restoring one's impaired reputation; regaining one's honor; redeeming oneself
名声赫々
めいせいかっかく
of great renown; highly illustrious; at the zenith of one's fame
汚名返上
おめいへんじょう
clearing one's name; redeeming oneself; restoring one's honor
名所古跡
めいしょこせき
scenic sites and historic places; places of natural beauty and historic interest
八月大名
はちがつだいみょう
the 8th month (of the lunar calendar) is the quietest for farmers
Proverbs & Idioms
名は体を表す
なはたいをあらわす
The name represents the reality
Names reflect true nature
Poetry
名にしおはば 逢坂山の さねかづら 人に知られで くるよしもがな
If it lives up to its name — the vine of Mount Osaka, the hill of meeting — let it bring you to me unseen.
恋すてふ わが名はまだき 立ちにけり 人知れずこそ 思ひ初めしか
Rumour that I am in love has gone around already, and I had only just begun to feel it, in secret.
滝の音は 絶えて久しく なりぬれど 名こそ流れて なほ聞こえけれ
The sound of the waterfall ceased long ago, yet its name flows on and is heard to this day.
恨みわび ほさぬ袖だに あるものを 恋にくちなむ 名こそ惜しけれ
Worn out with resentment, my sleeves never dry; and worse, my name will rot away in this love.
春の夜の 夢ばかりなる 手枕に かひなく立たむ 名こそ惜しけれ
For an arm pillow no more real than a spring night's dream, I would hate to lose my name for nothing.
Anime & Manga
君の名は。
Your Name
'Name' is central to the story about forgetting each other's names.
名探偵コナン
Detective Conan
'Famous/great' in 'great detective'; depicts a genius of deduction.
あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
A well-known work with 名 in its Japanese title.
終わりのセラフ 名古屋決戦編
Seraph of the End: Battle in Nagoya
A well-known work with 名 in its Japanese title.
劇場版 あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。
Anohana the Movie: The Flower We Saw That Day
A well-known work with 名 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
名取春仙
Name contains 名
Shunsen Natori was a Japanese woodblock printer, considered by many to be the last master in the art of kabuki yakusha-e "actor pictures".
Wikipedia藤原魚名
Name contains 名
Fujiwara no Uona was a Japanese aristocrat and statesman of the Nara period who was Minister of the Left and a member of the Fujiwara clan.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“reputation”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 名 mean in Japanese?
名 means name, noted, distinguished, reputation.
How do you read 名?
On'yomi: メイ、ミョウ (MEI, MYOU). Kun'yomi: な、-な (na, na).
How many strokes does 名 have?
名 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth).
Is 名 a good kanji for a tattoo?
名 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means name, noted, distinguished, reputation. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:name · reputation