The kanji 銘 (めい) primarily conveys the meaning of "inscription," "record," or "mark." It often refers to something written or engraved, typically on a physical object, to commemorate an event, identify ownership, or provide information. The character carries the idea of permanence and the lasting nature of a message or a name.

・On-yomi (音読み): メイ (mei) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): しる(す) (shiru(su)) - to engrave, to inscribe; な (na) - name

⚫︎ 銘酒 Translation: Famous sake; high-quality sake. ⚫︎ 記念銘板 Translation: Commemorative plaque. ⚫︎ 名銘 Translation: Famous brand

The kanji 銘 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, keisei moji). The left side is the radical 金 (かね, kin, meaning "metal" or "gold"), and the right side is 名 (な, na, meaning "name"). The 金 component suggests something made of metal, like a plaque or bell. The 名 component contributes to the sound and hints at the idea of a "name" or mark that is inscribed. Therefore, the character 銘 combines the idea of metal objects with the concept of a written record or name, thus creating an "inscription."