The kanji 銘 generally conveys the meaning of something that is "inscribed," "written," or "engraved." It often refers to a name, a record, or a label that is meant to be permanent or memorable. It can also imply a reputation or fame. Think of it as a way to leave a mark, whether physically on an object or figuratively in someone's memory.

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

⚫︎銘柄 Translation: Brand; trademark. ⚫︎名銘 Translation: Famous sake (often referring to a famous brand). This is a more literary expression. ⚫︎記念碑に銘を刻む Translation: To inscribe a name on a monument.

The kanji 銘 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 金(kane, gold/metal) and the phonetic component 名(na, name). The 金 radical suggests that the inscription or engraving is often done on metal objects, such as a sword or a bell. The 名 component provides the sound and the idea of a name or record. Essentially, the character conveys the idea of writing or engraving a name (or other information) on a metal object for posterity.