Yukimoji - Learn Japanese

VocabJLPT N1

surname

NounPlace

Definitions

1. surname
2. family name
3. Myouji
4. Japanese name

A person's family name or surname — the name shared by members of the same family, which in Japanese comes before the given name. It is the everyday, informal word for what is more formally called 姓 (せい).

Example sentences

Sentence 1

My grandmother used to say, "There's a smell of the land in a family name."

Sentence 2

I was taught that it's polite to give your last name first.

Sentence 3

At the police box, I was asked, "Can I have your surname and address?"

Sentence 4

Still, there are people who just seem important based on their last name alone, aren't there?

Sentence 5

Why does everyone always mispronounce my last name?!