Japanese word

姓

Pronunciation

Romajisei

Meaning

  • nounlast name

Example

あなたの姓は何ですか？a na ta no sei wa nan de su ka

What is your last name?

Illustration for 姓 (last name)

More examples

電話では、聞き間違いを防ぐために姓をゆっくり伝えます。den wa de wa ki ki ma chiga i o fuse gu ta me ni sei o yu kku ri tsuta e ma su

On the phone, I say my last name slowly to prevent misunderstandings.

Core concept

The word 姓 (sei, "last name") identifies the name shared by members of a family line, in contrast with a person's individual name.

Common phrases

  • 姓を伝えるsei o tsuta e ru

    give one's last name

  • 姓を聞くsei o ki ku

    ask for someone's last name

  • 姓を記入するsei o ki nyū su ru

    enter one's last name

Similar words

苗字myōji: An everyday term for the family name used in ordinary conversation.
姓氏seishi: A formal or written term for the name of a family line.

Definition in Japanese

家族や家系を示し、個人名と組み合わせて使う名前。ka zoku ya ka kei o shime shi ko jin mei to ku mi a wa se te tsuka u na mae

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese term 姓 (sei, "family name") is written with 女 (jo, "woman") and 生 (sei, "birth"), with the first part showing meaning and the second part suggesting pronunciation.

Usage tips

  • Japanese names traditionally place 姓 (sei) first, so the order can look reversed to English speakers who expect the given name to come first.

Word lists with this word