Japanese symbol for “surname”
姓
せい
Romaji: sei
surname; family name
In Japanese, surname is 姓, read せい (sei).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n surname; family name
- n hereditary title (used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing)
Written forms: 姓. Readings: せい、しょう、そう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “surname”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 苗字 | みょうじ myouji | surname; family name; last name |
| 上の名前 | うえのなまえ uenonamae | surname; family name; last name |
| ラストネーム | ラストネーム rasutoneemu | last name; surname; family name |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 同姓 | どうせい dousei | same surname |
| 百姓 | ひゃくしょう hyakushou | farmer; peasant; farm laborer |
| 姓名 | せいめい seimei | (full) name; family name and given name |
| 旧姓 | きゅうせい kyuusei | one's original family name; maiden name |
| 別姓 | べっせい bessei | different surname |
See also: Chinese symbol for “surname”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
Last posts
- Choosing a Tai Chi Sword Bag for Daily Practice
- Best Tai Chi Swords with Scabbards for Daily Training
- How Much Should You Spend on a Tai Chi Sword Budgeting Tips
- Tai Chi vs Wushu Swords What Sets Them Apart
- Are Flexible Wushu Swords Suitable for Tai Chi Forms
- Best Unsharpened Tai Chi Jian for Forms and Training
- How Heavy Should a Tai Chi Sword Be for Proper Training
- Best Wooden Tai Chi Swords for Training and Performance
- Collapsible Tai Chi Swords in Parks and Public Transit
- Are Telescopic Tai Chi Swords Good for Practice