Japanese word

氏

Pronunciation

Romajiuji

Meaning

  • nounfamily name

Example

結婚して氏を変えました。kek kon shi te uji o ka e ma shi ta

I changed my family name.

Illustration for 氏 (family name)

More examples

夫婦で同じ氏を名乗っています。fū fu de ona ji uji o na no tte i ma su

The couple uses the same family name.

Core concept

Names the family line a person belongs to, so it can identify both an inherited surname and the wider clan behind it.

Common phrases

  • 氏を名乗るuji o na no ru

    use a family name

  • 氏を改めるuji o arata me ru

    change one's family name

Similar words

姓sei: A formal word for the name shared by members of a family.
苗字myōji: An everyday word for a person's family name.
名字myōji: A usual word for the family name that appears in a person's full name.

Definition in Japanese

家族が代々受け継ぐ姓や、血縁でつながる家系。ka zoku ga dai dai u ke tsu gu sei ya ketsu en de tsu na ga ru ka kei

Word origin

The native Japanese word 氏 (uji, "clan or lineage") originally referred to a hereditary clan or lineage and later came to mean the family name associated with that group.

Usage tips

  • On Japanese forms, 氏名 (shimei, "full name") is the usual label for a person's complete name, while 氏 (uji, "family name") alone generally refers to the surname.

Other meanings

  • lineagenoun
  • clannoun

Word lists with this word