銘 means “inscription, signature, famous brand”

めい · mei

Also: signature (of artisan)

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

メイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 14 strokes

The story

A name (名) cut into metal (金): an inscription. Japanese swordsmiths chisel their 銘 into the tang of the blade, your 座右の銘 is the motto you live by, and a 銘柄 is a brand, or a stock on the market.

Used in 感銘 (kanmei, deep impression), 銘柄 (meigara, brand/stock issue), and 座右の銘 (zayuu no mei, personal motto)

More from Crests & Honors

• 冠 crown
• 勲 meritorious deed
• 紋 crest
• 碑 monument
• 傑 outstanding
• 褒 praise
• 璽 imperial seal
• 標 mark
• 徴 sign
• 功 merit
• 称 name
• 誉 honor

Learn 銘 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.