Japanese word

命名

Pronunciation

Romajimeimei

Meaning

  • nounnaming

Example

この賞の命名には長い議論がありました。ko no shō no mei mei ni wa naga i gi ron ga a ri ma shi ta

There was a long discussion about naming this award.

Illustration for 命名 (naming)

More examples

新しい星の命名は国際的な委員会が担当します。atara shi i hoshi no mei mei wa koku sai teki na i in kai ga tan tō shi ma su

An international committee is responsible for naming the new star.

Core concept

It refers to the deliberate act of giving an official or meaningful name to a person, place, object, or event.

Common phrases

  • 命名の由来mei mei no yu rai

    origin of the naming

  • 命名権mei mei ken

    naming rights

Similar words

名付けnazuke: The act of giving a name to a person, place, object, or event, often in an informal setting.
改称kaishō: The act of replacing an existing name with a different one.

Definition in Japanese

人や物事に名前を付けること。hito ya mono goto ni na mae o tsu ke ru ko to

Word origin

命名 (meimei, "naming") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 命 (mei, "to appoint or order") and 名 (mei, "name"), expressing the act of giving something a name.

Usage tips

  • English christening can mean a naming ceremony but can also refer to a Christian baptism, while 命名 (meimei) centers simply on giving a name.

Other meanings

  • christeningnoun

Related words

  • 命名者meimeishanamernoun
  • 命名法meimeihōnaming systemnoun

Word lists with this word