How to say 'Surname' in Japanese | 氏

Wondering how to say 'Surname' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Surname is 'Shi', written as 氏 in Japanese.'Surname' in hiragana is し.

word

氏

Meaning

Surname

Reading

し

shi

Kanji

氏Family name

Explanation

The Japanese noun '氏 (し)' refers to a person's surname or family name. It is often used in formal or written contexts, such as in official documents, news articles, or academic papers. For example: Mr. Tanaka's opinion「田中氏の意見」(たなかしのいけん). The term can also be used to refer to someone in a respectful manner, particularly when discussing their work or contributions. For instance: Dr. Suzuki's research「鈴木氏の研究」(すずきしのけんきゅう). Note that '氏' is typically used in third-person references and is not used when directly addressing someone.

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

2698

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 氏

This word contains 1 kanji character:

kanji

氏

Meaning

Family name

Words Related to 氏 Through the Kanji 氏

This Word contains the Kanji 氏 as well.

word

彼氏

Meaning

Boyfriend

Learn the Word 氏

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Shi' (氏) mean?

'Shi' means 'Surname' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.