名 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
At its core, 名 is about a name — what you call a person, place, or thing. From there it stretches into the idea of being known or noted: someone with a "big name" is famous, and a "name person" is an expert. You'll meet it in two main jobs: as the everyday word for a name (名前) and as a building block inside words about fame and reputation (有名 "famous," 名人 "a master"). It also has a handy grammar job — counting people. The nice payoff is that when you spot 名 in a new word, it almost always points to either a name or being well-known.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | な | 名前 (name), 名 (name) |
| on'yomi | メイ | 有名 (famous), 名刺 (business card), 名人 (master) |
| on'yomi | ミョウ | 大名 (だいみょう, feudal lord) — rare |
Here's a rule of thumb that works for most kanji: the kun'yomi (な) shows up when the kanji stands more or less on its own, while the on'yomi (メイ) appears inside two-kanji compound words. So 名前 leans on な, but 有名, 名刺, and 名人 all flip to メイ. The second on reading, ミョウ, is uncommon at N5 — you'll mainly meet it in the old word 大名 (だいみょう, a feudal lord), so just file it away as a rare exception.
One more useful job: 名 is also the counter for people in formal contexts. "Three people" can be written 三名 (さんめい) — here it again takes the on reading メイ.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 6, written top to bottom — the upper part (夕, "evening") first, then the 口 ("mouth") below it.
- Radical: the radical is 口 ("mouth"), sitting at the bottom. The traditional story is that on a dark evening (夕) you can't see someone's face, so you call out with your mouth (口) to say your name — evening + mouth = name. It's a tidy way to remember both the shape and the meaning at once.
Recognizing 口 as the radical also helps you file 名 alongside other "mouth"-based kanji, many of which involve speaking or calling out.
Common words using 名
Notice the reading split in action: 名前 leans on the kun reading な, while the compounds 有名, 名刺, and 名人 all switch to the on reading メイ. The odd one out is 大名, which uses the rare ミョウ — a good example of why a few words just have to be memorized.
Example sentences
ヤッタンの名前はカタカナで書きます。
ヤッタンの なまえは カタカナで かきます。
Yattan's name is written in katakana.
名前 — the kun'yomi な reading.
モチは町でいちばん有名な犬です。
モチは まちで いちばん ゆうめいな いぬです。
Mochi is the most famous dog in town.
有名 uses the on'yomi メイ — common in compounds about fame.
先生は弟に「これは私の名刺です」と言いました。
せんせいは おとうとに 「これは わたしの めいしです」と いいました。
Sensei said to my little brother, This is my business card.
名刺 (めいし) also takes the on'yomi メイ.
Quick recap
- 名 = name; noted; reputation; 6 strokes; radical is 口 ("mouth").
- な when it stands close to alone (名前); メイ in compounds (有名, 名刺, 名人).
- ミョウ is rare — mostly just 大名 (だいみょう). 名 is also the polite counter for people (三名 = さんめい).
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 名 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 名 in 名前 vs 有名?
In 名前 it's the kun'yomi な (名前 = なまえ, 'name'). In 有名 it's the on'yomi メイ (有名 = ゆうめい, 'famous'). As a rule, compounds take the on'yomi.
How many strokes does 名 have?
名 has 6 strokes. The top part 夕 ('evening') is written first, then the radical 口 ('mouth') at the bottom.
When is 名 read ミョウ?
ミョウ is rare. You'll mainly see it in 大名 (だいみょう, 'feudal lord'). For everyday N5 study, focus on な and メイ.
Can 名 count people?
Yes. 名 (メイ) is a polite counter for people, as in 三名 (さんめい, 'three people'). It's common on forms and in formal or service settings.