姓
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Noun referring to a family name or surname. Used in formal contexts, such as on official documents or when introducing oneself. Example: 『私の姓は田中です』 (Watashi no sei wa Tanaka desu, 'My surname is Tanaka').
Theme
User is filling out a form at a Japanese office with their colleague Tanaka, discussing personal details.
姓
せい
surname, family name
People & IdentityFamily & Personal Relationships
Memory Hook
Imagine a family tree where everyone shares the same last name. The 'surname' is like a 'sign' (せい sei sounds like 'sign') of family identity — 'Sign' → 姓 (sei, 'surname').
Cultural Note
In Japan, surnames (姓 sei) are written before given names, reflecting the importance of family over the individual. Common surnames include 『佐藤』 (Satō) and 『鈴木』 (Suzuki).
Forms
Base: 姓Noun referring to a family name or surname. Used in formal contexts, such as on official documents or when introducing oneself. Example: 『私の姓は田中です』 (Watashi no sei wa Tanaka desu, 'My surname is Tanaka').