「お名前は？」
= Onamae wa?
= What is your name?
「モコで〜す！」
= Moko deesu!
= I’m Moko!
Hi everyone!
元気でしたか？ ( = Genki deshitaka? ) How have you been?
Today’s lesson is about “names” in Japanese.
We have a cute toy poodle guest teacher, モコ先生 ( = Moko-Sensei) !CHECKHEART!
****************************************
Hello, I am Moko! I am your Japanese teacher for today!
My mom, Tomoko, also teaches Japanese on Youtube.
So please subscribe to her. She is a lot of fun and really 元気 ( = genki) energetic !
OK, let’s get started!
Today I’ll be teaching you “name related” Japanese.
Name in Japanese is 名前 ( = namae).
I bet one of the first phrases you learned when you first start learning Japanese was,
“What is your name?”
:u:
Ex. あなたのお名前はなんですか？
= Anata no onamae wa nan desuka?
or
Ex. あなたのお名前はなんと言いますか？
= Anata no onamae wa nan to ii masu ka?
They are correct and nobody would correct you but as I explained in my lesson (Is it OK to use あなた ( = anata)?) , there are cases you want to avoid using あなた（ = anata) to superior people.
You can simply omit あなた ( = anata)
Ex. お名前はなんですか？
= Onamae wa nan desuka?
Ex. お名前はなんと言いますか？
= Onamae wa nan to ii masu ka?
Or just say,
Ex. お名前は？
= Onamae wa?
= Your name?
(Polite)
Ex. お名前を教えて頂けますか？
= Onamae wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?
= May I ask your name please?
Ex. お名前をお聞きしてもいいですか？
= Onamae wo okiki shite mo ii desuka?
= May I ask your name please?
(Very polite)
Ex. お名前をお教え頂けますか？
= Onamae wo ooshie itadakemasu ka?
= May I have your name, please.
Ex. お名前をお伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか？
= Onamae wo oukagai shitemo yoroshii de shou ka?
= May I ask your name?
Ex. お名前をお聞かせ願えますか？
= Onamae wo okikase negaemasu ka?
= Could you please give me your name, please.
Note: Just for your reference but you may hear people say:
Ex. お名前を頂けますか？
= Onamae wo itadakemasuka?
= May I have your name, please?
Ex.お名前を頂戴できますか？
= Onamae wo choudai dekimasuka?
= May I have your name, please?
These expressions are especially common in business situations, over the counter or phone. They are actually listed in some business manner instruction manuals but some language experts say they are not proper expressions
because you can not actually 頂く( = itadaku) ／頂戴する( = choudai suru) “receive/have” people’s name.
(Casual)
Ex. 名前 (を) 教えてくれる？
= Namae (wo) oshiete kureru?
= Can you tell me your name?
Ex. 名前（を）聞いてもいい？
= Namae (wo) kiite mo ii?
= Can I ask your name?
(Very casual)
Ex. 名前なんていうの？
= Namae nante iu no?
= What is your name?
Ex. 名前は？
= Namae wa?
= Your name?
:i: The order of Japanese name:
When you write/say your name, the order will be
1) family name + 2) first name
1) family name = 姓 ( = sei )，名字/苗字 ( = myouji )
2) first name = 名前 ( = namae )
姓名 = seimei = family name and first name/ full name
You will see this on official forms where you have to fill in your name,
氏名 ( = shimei )
氏 ( = shi ) means one’s family name and 名 ( = mei / na) means one’s first name
Since 名前 ( = namae ) means both one’s full name and first name, some people get confused.
So in order to make it clear, we sometimes distinguish them saying:
*上の名前 = ue no namae = (the literal meaning is upper name) family name
*下の名前 = shita no namae = (the literal meaning: bottom name) first name
because when we write our name vertically, family names goes on top and the first name goes in the lower position.
See this typical Japanese name below?
:u:
The first two letters 佐藤 ( = Satou) is a family name and the third and fourth letters 恵子 ( = Keiko) is a first name.
Ex. 上のお名前を教えて下さい。
= Ue no onamae wo oshiete kudasai.
= Could you tell me your family name?
佐藤です。
＝ Satou desu.
= It’s Sato.
Ex. 下のお名前を教えて頂けますか？
= Shita no onamae wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?
= Could you tell me your first name?
恵子です。
= Keiko desu.
= It’s Keiko.
When you want one’s full name, (名字 ／ 苗字 ( = myouji) and 名前 ( = namae) ) you can use the katakana word:
Ex. フルネームを教えてください。
= Furuneemu wo oshiete kudasai.
= May I ask your full name?
Ex. フルネームでお願いします。
= Furu neemu de onegai shimasu.
= Please fill in your full name.
:qq: Typical conversation :
(Polite)
Ex. A: 「失礼ですが、お名前をお伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか？」
= Shitsurei desu ga Onamae wo oukagai shite mo yoroshii deshouka?
= Excuse me. May I have your name, please.
B :「谷口です。」
= Taniguchi
= Taniguchi.
A : 「下のお名前もお聞かせ願えますか？」
= Shita no onamae mo okikase negaemasu ka?
= May I also have your first name, please?
B : 「健太です。」
= Kenta desu.
= It’s Kenta.
A : 「いいお名前ですね。」
= Ii onamae desune.
= That’s a good name.
(Casual)
Ex. 「名前聞いてもいい？」
= Namae kiite mo ii?
= Can I ask your name?
Ex. 「谷口だよ。」
= Taniguchi.
= It’s Taniguchi.
Ex. 「下の名前は (なんていうの？）？」
= Shita no namae wa (nante iu no) ?
= What about your first name?
Ex. 「健太」
= Kenta
= Kenta
***********
* Common Japanese family names:
(Note: How to read: A lot of names use kun-reading but of course there are many exceptions.)
When you hear people’s names, you usually ask what kind of kanji except very common names.
Ex. 「お名前はどう書きますか？」
= Onamae wa dou kakimasuka?
= How do you write your name?
Ex. 「どういう字を書きますか？」
= Douiu ji wo kakimasu ka?
= What kanji do you use?
Ex. 「(お名前の) 漢字を教えて頂けますか？」
= (Onamae no) kanji wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?
= Could you tell me what kanji you use for your name?
***********
When we tell people what kanji we use, we usually give the most common words.
Ex. 「”健康”の”健”に”太い”で”健太”です。」
= “Kenkou” no “ken” ni “futoi” de “Kenta” desu.
= 健 ( = ken) from “健康 ( = kenkou) health” with “太い” “fat/thick” So 健太 (=Kenta)
Ex. 「奈良」の「奈」、「保険」の「保」で奈保（なほ ）と書きます。
= “Nara” no “na”, “hoken” no “ho” de “Naho” to kakimasu.
= Naho, “Na” from “Nara” and “Ho” from “hoken (=insurance)”
Or give them the radical of the kanji.
Ex. ごんべんに成功の成と書きます。
= “Gonben” ni “seikou” no “sei” to kakimasu.
= With “gonben” and 成 (=sei) from 成功 ( = seikou = success)
* Gonben “言” (a radical which you write on the left side)
If it is written in hiragana,
Ex. 平仮名で「ゆかり」と書きます。
= Hiragana de “Yukari” to kakimasu.
= Yukari is in hiragana.
*********
When you write your name in document, you usually see this format.
:u:
* 氏名 ( = shimei ) full name
* 名字 ( = myouji ) family name * 名前 ( = namae ) first name
* かな/仮名 (=kana ) (to type in hiragana or katakana)
You also type your foreign name in かな ( = kana)
Ex. Maggie →マギー
How to name one’s name
to name someone in Japanese
* 名前を付ける = namae wo tsukeru
* 名付ける = nazukeru
* 命名する = meimei suru
*********************
There is a saying in Japanese
名は体を表す
= Na wa tai wo arawsu
= Names represent who you are.
So name is very important for one’s life.
Every kanji has its own meaning.
When parents think of their children’s names, many of them pick the name with the the kanji with a meaning that represents how they want their child to grow up.
For example if the parents want their child to be a very sweet person,
優 ( = yuu)
lovely girl,
愛 ( = ai ) love,
beautiful girl,
美 ( = mi ) beauty , 花 ( = ka ) flowers,
and more vigorous kanji for boys, such as 剛 ( = gou/tsuyoshi) strength, 勇 ( = yuu/ Isamu) brave .
********************
We can usually tell people’s gender by their first name.
boucingheart! Girl’s names:
Traditionally girls name ends with 子 ( = ko )
雅子 ( = Masako ), 典子 ( = Noriko ), 美紀子 ( = Mikiko ), etc.
* 〜美 ( = mi ), み ( = mi) , 江 ( = e ), 枝 ( = e )
和美 ( = Kazumi ), 恵美 ( = Emi ), 良江 ( = Yoshie ), etc.
Note: There are some male names with the kanji 美 as well.
＊〜菜 ( = na ), 奈 ( = na )
Ex. 明菜 ( = akina), 礼奈 ( = reina )
＊〜 香 ( = ka ), 花 ( = ka ) etc.
Ex. 静香 ( = Shizuka ), 梨花 ( = Rinka)
＊〜穂 ( = ho ), 保 ( = ho )
Ex. 奈穂 ( = Noho ) / 美保 ( = Miho ), etc.
boucingheart! Boy’s names:
* 〜男 ( = o)/ 雄 ( = o ), 郎 ( = rou ), 彦 ( = hiko )
Ex. 一雄 ( = kazuo ), 義男 ( = yoshio ). 太郎 ( = tarou ), 一郎 ( = Ichirou )*, 和彦 ( = kazuhiko )
*～介 ( = suke )/ 輔 ( = suke ), 太 ( = tai ) fat, thick, 平 ( =hei ), 司 ( = shi/ji ), 作 (=saku ), 也 ( = nari )/ 生 ( = nari/ki ) etc
Ex. 大介/ 大輔 ( = Daisuka), 幸太 ( = kouta ), 浩平 ( = Kouhei )/ 淳平 ( = Junpei ),浩司 (=Kouji ), etc.
:ee: Note:
1) A little old fashioned but some parents name their children by the order in which they were born
一郎 ( = Ichirou )、二郎 ／次郎 ( = Jirou )、三郎 ( = Saburou )
or by the season they were born in
spring →春子 ( = Haruko )、summer →夏子 ( = Natsuko )、fall→ 秋子 ( = Akiko )、winter →冬子 ( = Fuyuko )
2) People’s first names don’t have to be all kanji. There are a lot of names that are just hiragana.
さゆり ( = Sayuri ), まり ( = Mari ), かおり ( = Kaori)
!yflower! Cultural note 1)
A lot of parents consults 姓名判断 ( = seimeihandan ) fortune-telling based on the number of strokes required to write a name in kanji, numerology of name
Some consult professional fortune-tellers and some people do it themselves by checking 字画 ( = jikaku ) , the number of strokes to write each kanji.
According to the numerology of name, if your name has a “bad” number of total strokes of kanji, 字画が悪い ( = jikaku ga warui ), it affects their personality or destiny so that they change their name or children’s name.
This often happens especially when women get married and change their family names to their husband’s family name.
Compared to changing your family name,
:r:
改名する = kaimei suru = to change one’s name
There are also a lot of sites to help people find names for their children.
We even have an app to check the 字画 ( = jikaku ) , the number of strokes to write each kanji or help decide naming our babies.
If it is too complicated to re-register your name officially, you can just use different kanji or hiragana for your name in your daily life and use your true name just when you write official documents.
So these are the most popular names for children in 2014
:u:
There has been a trend to name your children International names which should work both in Japan and western countries.
Ex. 健 ( = ken ) Ken , 譲 ( = jou ) Joe , かれん/ ( =Karen ) Karen, 理沙 ( = Risa ) Lisa, etc.
As you can see, naming children is getting more and more creative.
Even if they use kanji, some names have totally different ways of reading them. This is called 当て字 (= ateji )
Ex. 宇宙
The real way to read this word is うちゅう ( = uchuu) which means universe but they want him to call こすも/コスモ ( = Kosumo) coming from an English word, “Cosmos”
So if you don’t know how to read, just ask,
(Polite)
「お名前、どうお読みしたらいいですか？」
= Onamae, dou oyomi shitara ii desu ka?
= How should I read your name?
(Casual)
「名前、どうやって読んだらいい？」
= Namae, douyatte yondara ii?
= How should I read your name?
:k: Cultural note 2 :
In Japan a married couple has to choose one family name.
Ex. 塩田宏 = Shiota Hiroshi (husband ) x 神田実香 ( = Kanda Mika ) (wife )
You can keep just one family name. Either 塩田 ( = Shiota ) or 神田 ( = Kanda )
Though many women still choose their husband family name but if husband decides to abandon his family name, he is called 婿養子 ( = Muko
youshi ), son-in-law taken into his wife’s family. Generally speaking, if you are the only child and your parents want to keep their family name,
you just have to ask your husband and his family to betaken into your family. But this may cause some conflicts especially when your husband
is the only child as well.
Also a lot of women feel it is disadvantageous to have a new family name for business or other reason, they keep using 旧姓 ( = kyuusei) old family
name/ their original family name.
So the Legislative Council has proposed the draft amendment for a new new system called 夫婦別姓 ( = fuufu bessei) / 夫婦別氏 ( = fuufu besshi) selective separate surname systems for married couples where a married couple can have separate family names.
So we’ll see.
:ee: The name in Japanese is 名前 ( = namae ) but when we use it with other noun, we say
something + 名 ( = mei/myou)
* 地名 = chimei = the name of the place
* 国名= kokumei = the name of the country
* 学校名 = gakkoumei = the name of the school
* 会社名 = kaishamei = the name of the company
* 商品名 = shouhinmei = the name of the product
* ユーザー名 = yuuzaa mei = user name
:w: Other name related words:
* 本名 = honmyou = one’s real name
* 実名 = jitsumei = one’s real name, true name
* 別名 = betsumei = alias
* 旧姓 = kyuusei = original family name, maiden name
＊芸名 = geimei = screen name, stage name
* 偽名=gimei = false name
* 渾名 = あだ名 = adana = nickname (We also say ニックネーム = Nikkuneimu)
* 匿名 = tokumei = anonymity
Ex. 匿名希望 = tokumei kibou = Name withheld by request
* 宛名 = atena = the name or address to send a letter or package
* 同姓同名 = dousei doumei = the same first and last names.
Ex. 彼と私は同姓同名だ。
= Kare to watashi wa dousei doumei da.
= He and I have the same first and last names.
これで私のレッスンを終わります。読んでくれてありがとう!
= Kore de watashi no ressun wo owarimasu. Yonde kurete arigatou.
= So that’s my lesson. Thank you so much for reading!
マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
モコ先生、ありがとう！
= Moko sensei, arigatou!
= Thank you, Moko Sensei!
みんなの名前には何か意味がありますか？
= Minna no namae niwa nani ka imi ga arimasu ka?
= Do you have any meaning of your names?
日本語の名前をつけるのだったらどんな名前がいい？
= Nihongo no namae wo tsukeru no dattara donna namae ga ii?
= If you named yourself a Japanese name, what kind of name would you chose?
***
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I appreciate your support! サポートありがとう！
45 Comments
はじめまして、マギー先生!
私 は 「べあとりつ」（BEATRIZ）です。The meanig of my name, from Greek origins, is “blessed with happiness” or “blessing of joy”. I wanted a Japanese name where the Kanji has the same meaning of the original greek word. I’ve found 「惠喜」 or 「恵喜」that reads 「けいけ」, but I’m not so sure if it is the right one. Is there a more appropriate way of writing my name in Kanji? Or is there a Kanji combination with more proximity to the real name pronunciation with a beautiful meaning?
I’m sorry, I do know I’m asking many questions, but your lessons are SO MUCH GREATER than any japanese class I’ve been to, here in Brazil, that I couldn’t help it! (I’m learning japanese for quite a while, but although I’m confident enough to speak it, I’m not that sure about my writing skills just yet).
ところで、my brother’s name is “Andre”, means “strong/healty/manly man”. When he saw me looking for my name he asked me about his, and after a day worth of research, I found 「雄人 」. Is that correct? And what is the sound of this name (what’s it written in hiragana)? Is there a better choice for him?
Oh, Gosh, sorry, I’m on full rant-mode here!!
お手数ですが、よろしくお願いします.
I still have other questions, but I’ll stop myself short at this point.
ご面倒 をお掛け いたしまして 申し訳ありません。
マギー先生, ほんと に、いつも ありがとう！
こんにちは、Beatriz
You have a lovely name, Beatriz!
Some foreign name can be converted in kanji but べあとりつ with that meaning, “blessing of joy” is hard.
You may want to just have a Japanese name with the meaning.
恵喜 = けいき may sound better but it sounds like a boy’s name.
If you prefer a girl’s name, reverse the kanji
喜恵 よしえ
Or change the first letter 喜 joy to 幸 happiness
幸恵 (さちえ／ゆきえ） That is pretty common girl’s name.
As for your brother,
The common way of reading the name 雄人 is either まさと or ゆうと
It is very “manly” name which represent a strong man.
Hope it helps!
I’m happy to hear you learn something from my site.
日本語、楽しんでがんばってくださいね〜！
Hi Maggie先生, when I write my Western name in katakana, I have been putting my surname first. I also introduce myself by my surname in a formal or business setting. However, I have noticed that in certain letters or on business cards, Western names are written in katakana with the first name first. Which way round is it for Western names?
ありがとうございます！
@JJ
Hi JJ
We tend to adapt Western name order in business letters.
So “first name” + “surname”
***
However, when Japanese people make business cards in kanji and romaji,
since kanji order is “surname” + “first name”, romaji also use this order.
山田 花子
Yamada Hanako
(surname) + (first name)
Ahaaa! Thank you so much!
You’re very welcome, JJ! :)
Would 霊 美 mean “beautiful soul” for the name Remi? Sorry for all the questions Maggie, I just want to make sure I get the kanji correct.
＠Philip
Yes 霊 is a very spiritual kanji and it is possible to use it for the name “remi”.
But 霊 is also used for 幽霊=ghost so some people might avoid using it.
Thanks for the quick and detailed explanation! I knew that -mi meant beauty but does the -Re add anything to the meaning of the name Remi? I heard some Japanese make up names.
＠Philip
鈴 just means “bell” so if the following kanji is 美, it could mean “beautiful sound of the bell.”
FYI
礼= politeness
玲= symbolize the beauty of jewel, a precious stone
澪= a pole standing in water to show the ship’s way
It is a complicated kanji so I didn’t write in my previous comment but
麗 = graceful, lovely is also a beautiful kanji to use for a name.
We are supposed to read the kanji “rei” but we can use these kanji for re sound for names.
Hi Maggie,
I am Japanese Canadian. We named our daughter Remi with the desire for it to mean beautiful. What would your translation of Remi be, and how would you write it using kanji? I know it as 鈴実. But is there an easier way to write the first character? Thank you!
@Philip
Hi Philip,
Your daughter must be a beautiful girl.
the meaning of 鈴実? 鈴=bell 実=real, honest, truth, full filled, fruits
If you want the meaning of “beauty” you can switch the second kanji to 美(=mi)
I checked other options of the name Remi. It won’t be easier but…
礼美
怜美
玲海
澪美
People have been calling me jonosuke because I’ve been working 6 days a week since October..
@John
Hello John,
I am sorry.. I don’t understand why jonosuke is related to the fact you have been working 6 days a week since October??? 〜之助／〜之介(~ no suke) is a traditional male name. (From Samurai era.) So I thought they combine it with your name ジョン.
はじめましてマギー先生! ジョディーともうします。よろしくおねがいします。(*˙︶˙*)☆*°
My name is Jodie. The reason I was named that because actress Jodie Foster was famous during the year of my birth and my brother (who thought it up) thinks is an uncommon and unique name. Maybe my family thought I should be one who can pick and do something not everyone else can do. :D
I think if I go to Japan, I’ll still use my katakana full name. However, if I can pick a Japanese name, I’d like to use I usually use for my internet handle name, 青空, which means blue sky. However, my friend said it is not a word that can be used as a name. I wonder if that is true?
Also, if I can pick any name for 上の名前, I’d like to use name with kanji 宮. Like 高宮 or 桜ノ宮. I think the word 宮 is very cool. If else, I think surname with kanji 原 is also cool.
@Jodie
はじめまして、Jodie!こちらこそよろしくお願いしますね。
ジョディーはとってもいい名前ですね。ジョディーフォスターも素敵です。
There is actually a name, 青空（Some people raed it as Sora or Harua) Usually it is a boy’s name but who cares.
宮 is a very noble kanji. We link the image of palace or emperor. 高宮, 桜の宮 both sound good.
原 is a pretty common name.
If you want to give yourself a Japanese name for fun, it is the best to choose the kanji you like.
こんにちは Maggie 先生! 始めまして。私の名前はアレックスです｡ イギリスです｡ 私は少し日本語が話せます。
(I hope I wrote this correctly. Sorry for any mistakes. My japanese is very limited at the moment since I just started learning ^^’)
I just would like to say thank you for creating this blog. It is very helpful for my self studies of Japanese. I hope one day I will be a fluent speaker and perhaps move to Japan. I really like the language and culture.
I have a question though.
My real name is Alex and I am not quite sure how to write it in Kanji. All I could find online is アレックス which is a bit too long and well not that interesting to look at. If its possible for you to write it for me in Kanji I would be very happy.
Also, another question. It is regarding writing the は symbol.
When I write it on my phone or ipod I must write it as ‘ha’ but it’s pronunced as ‘wa’. When I write ‘wa’ i get this わ instead of は｡ Why is that? I am using a romaji keyboard. Are they the same or my keyboard has an error? I found this out by an accidental typo… O.o
I am confused a bit…
Thank you for your time.
And once again thank you for creating this blog or I should say ありがとうございます。(*^_^*)
Alex.
@Alex
こんにちは、Alex! はじめまして！(Your Japanese is really good. Just one thing. イギリスです。→イギリス人です。I made self-introduction lesson so please check it out. ）
I am VERY happy to hear you think our site helpful. :)
When we write foreign names in kanji, we have to pick kanji by its sound and then pick from its meaning.
It has been a trend for foreign tourists to make a personal seal called 判子(=hanko) and one of the sites used
彼久寿 for your name.
彼=are = that
久=ku = eternal, long lived
寿=su = happiness
Other possibilities
阿礼久寿/阿麗久寿
阿=a= compromising or calling someone in a friendly manner
礼＝rei (The way we read is rei but I guess you can use it as レ for name) = gratitude, politeness
麗= rei = beautiful lovely
****************
As for the letter は or を, you just have to use “ha” or “wo” when you type.
For example if you want to say
I have the same book.
↓
私は同じ本を持っています。
You read （Watashi wa onaji hon wo motte imasu.)
But you type as follows.
watashihaonajihonwomotteimasu.
Hope this helps.
がんばって！ I am always here for you!
彼久寿
こんにちは！質問がある！
My Chinese name in characters is 英柏. What would be the 読み方 and 意味 if there is a valid translation? Or would it be simpler to continue going by my given English name.
ありがとう！
＠英柏
こんにちは、英柏！
The possible way to read your name will be えいはく=eihaku or ひではく=hidehaku. (In my opinion, えいはく sounds better but it is up to you.)
The meaning of 英 excellence, superiority, great ability
柏 is a name of a tree, an oak
相変わらず、すごいレッスンありがとう！文化のことも面白かった。
「これで私のレッスンを終わります。」
この文章で「終わります」は自動視だけどなんで「は/が」の代わりに「を」を使ったの？
@Marianne
こんにちは、Marianne!
「終わる」は自動詞にも他動詞にもなる動詞です。
開く（ひらく）も両方使える動詞です。
somethingが開（ひら）く
Someoneがsomethingを開（ひら）く
あ、なるほど！知らなかったんです。ありがとう！
ところで、世界一遅い返事ごめんなさい！
どういたしまして、Marianne! !heart3!
i’m new to japanese and is currently struggling trying to learn it…
however there is one thing that bothers me with that first picture lol
being the beginner that i am, i seriously thought the first picture was meant to be pronounced onamae HA instead of WA.
can you please explain to me why write HA in hiragana and not WA?
i know its a trivial matter but i cant help but be bothered by it
@182
Hello 182!
わたしは182です。
= Watashi wa 182 desu.
= I am 182.
OK, 私(=watashi) is a subject and は is a subject marker. When は is used as a subject maker, we pronounce は, “wa”.
Maggie sensei,
Hajimemaste, onamae susan desu, meggie sensei Can you please teach japanese language in private?
I really want to speak japanese, but sometimes make me confuse.
Maggie sensei Onegai shimasu
@Susan
Konnichiwa, Susan! Hajimemashite.
I feel flattered to hear you want to take my lesson in private.
Actually several people have been asking me if I could teach them in private but I have to find the time and the way to do so. When I figure it out, I will announce it on the site. Meanwhile please feel free to ask me any questions here.
(Note for you. When you introduce yourself, you say “Watashi no namae wa Susan desu or Watashi wa susan desu. “onamae” is an honorific expression and you use it for other people. )
Hello~ Maggie Sensei and Moko Sensei~
this lesson is so much fun~
My name is written like this →愛子
ah, by the way Sensei that’s my real name~
愛 is just my ニックネーム！( ´ ▽ ` )
the meaning of my name is Love Child? am i right Sensei? |ω･`)
@Ai
Hello Ai!
So your real name is 愛子. You have a really nice name!
愛子 literally means “Love Child” as you said but it could mean “a woman with full of love”, “lovely girl”, and etc.
Love your name!
Hi Maggie-sensei, Moko-sensei! Thank you for another great and informative article, I really learned a lot.
Speaking of names, much to my surprise I discovered my name (Remi) on a list of Japanese baby names for girls not to long ago and was wondering if that name is common and what it typically means. The kanji that I’ve encountered so far is “玲美”.
It’s funny because even though I’m American, my mom named me after a character with the same name from one of the novels that she wrote before I was born. She swears she made the name up herself! lol
Thank you for your input, keep up the good work!:)
@Remi
Hello Remi,
I really like your name and yes, it could be written
礼美，礼実，鈴実，玲美，玲実，玲未，玲海，玲深，玲並，怜美，怜実，怜未，怜海，伶美…..
The character in your mom’s novel must be a lovely person as you are.
Thank you for the very kind words, Maggie-sensei! I really appreciate that! Thanks again for taking the time to show me the different variations of my name, this is so cool!
!happyface! ohayou maggie-sensei, hajimemashite watashi no namae wa Miftah Riza desu, Indonsia ni sunde imasu^^ yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
kono webusaito ga daisuki desu^^ muryou de nihongo no benkyou ga dekiru you ni narimasu^^
nihongo o oshiete kurete houtou ni arigatou gozaimasu, maggie-sensei.
@ Miftah Riza
Ohayou, Miftah Riza!
Kochirakoso kono saito ni kite kurete arigatou! Korekara mo yoroshikune!
My name’s Angel. Would the kanji be 天使?
Thank you Sensei
@Angel
Hello Angel,
Yes, the kanji for angel is 天使. :)
私の名前はLava、ひらがなで「らわ」と書きます。「らゔぁ」って間違われてしまうことがあるけど、発音は「ゔぁ」じゃなくて「わ」です！
英語の意味はちょっと変。直接に「溶岩」っていう意味になっちゃうけど、両親の付けた名前が嫌で、その名前を短くして公式に改名したんです。意味や由来はないと思います。
前に日本人の友達に漢字を付けてみればって言われたけど、「ら」の漢字は少ないようですね。「蘭和」で決めたけど「羅和」も考慮していました。マギー先生はどう思いますか？多分、おかしいですね。
「蘭」は「アイルランド」の漢字「愛蘭」で（私はアイルランド人です）、「和」は日本の「和風」、一緒にすればこの名前って考えたこともあるんですけど。
＠Lava
自分の名前は一生のものだから大切ですね。 Lavaも改名したのね。
確かに「ら」の漢字は少ないから「蘭和」「羅和」になるかな？お花の「蘭」も美しいし「和」の漢字は日本の和という意味とそれから人と人とのハーモニーという意味もあるから素敵な名前だと思いますよ。
もっと長くて発音できないぐらい名前から Lavaに改名したんですよ（＾＾）
このレッスンはとても面白かったです！
@Lava
いつもありがとう、Lava!! Lavaはいい名前ですよ♬
(typoかな？ →ぐらい”の”名前）
あ、そうです！間違いました！「長くて発音できないぐらい難しい名前」でしたっけ。
ありがとうマギー先生！
@Lava
どういたしまして！いつもほとんど完璧な日本語ですよ！
こんにちは先生。いつも教えてくれてありがとうございます。
My name’s Harold and when I went to Japan last year, everyone is calling me Harorudo as my name is written as ハロルド in Japanese. Our sensei taught me that if my name will be written in Kanji, it would be written as 晴道. Pretty much close, eh? The literal meaning would be “sunny road” which I liked because I am quite an optimistic person.
@Harold Ian
こんにちは、晴道！
Sunny Road!!! What a cool name you have! :)