The kanji 姓 generally means "surname," "family name," or "last name." It refers to the name shared by all members of a family. It distinguishes families from one another. It's an essential part of a person's identity and lineage.

・On-yomi (音読み): セイ (sei) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, but it is often used in compound words.

⚫︎氏名 (しめい) Translation: Full name (including surname and given name) ⚫︎同姓 (どうせい) Translation: Same surname ⚫︎姓氏 (せいし) Translation: Surnames; family names (collectively)

The kanji 姓 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 女 (onna - woman) on the left side, which represents the "feminine" or "female" element, suggesting lineage through the maternal line in ancient Chinese society. On the right side, it contains the phonetic component 生 (sei - life, birth, to be born), which represents the sound "sei". The original meaning of 姓 was linked to the clan or the lineage originating from a common ancestor, initially tracing through the mother's side. Over time, its meaning shifted to encompass surnames in general.