Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
銘

銘·inscription, signature (of artisan)

On-yomi
めい
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
銘柄めいがらbrand, stock issue
感銘かんめいdeep impression
座右の銘ざゆうのめいone's motto
肝に銘じるきもにめいじるto take deeply to heart, to never forget

Example sentences

  1. その本に深い感銘を受けた。

    そのほんにふかいかんめいをうけた。

    That book made a deep impression on me.

  2. 父の言葉を肝に銘じている。

    ちちのことばをきもにめいじている。

    I have taken my father's words deeply to heart.

  3. この銘柄の日本酒が一番好きだ。

    このめいがらのにほんしゅがいちばんすきだ。

    This brand of sake is my favourite.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 感銘 as 感名
  • Reading 銘柄 as めいへい — the second character voices to がら

Memory aid

Picture it

Metal 金 plus name 名: a name cut into metal, so it stays — the maker's mark, and by extension anything engraved on the mind.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 銘 mean?