A couple weeks ago I was going through a Japanese workbook can came across some common names. For a moment I thought about learning them via flashcards, so today I made up a very small 20-card list. It was warming typing up the list, since the names are fairly familiar among characters and creators we all know and love.
佐藤 さとう 鈴木 すずき 高橋 たかはし 田中 たなか 渡辺 わたなべ 伊藤 いとう 中村 なかむら 山本 やまもと 小林 こばやし 斎藤 さいとう
加糖 かとう 吉田 よしだ 山田 やまだ 佐々木 ささき 松本 まつもと 山口 やまぐち 木村 きむら 井上 いのうえ 阿部 あべ 林 はやし
Perhaps my favorite of the list is 井上 (いのうえ), which has pretty ring to it and sounds so… proper. <3 Interestingly, KanjiDict’s list of common Japanese names (including male and female first names) does not include いのうえ. Hmm, right?
Personally, I believe learning the common names (including the various kanji writings) is a decent investment, especially when browsing things like wikipedia or official sites. And no matter how fast StarDict selections bring up a reading, the brain will be much quicker and often more correct (even with just a week of study).
For the reader, what are some of your favorite [non-exotic] surnames?
My favorite voice actress has the last name you like
Yes, learning surnames is useful. I’ll do that after I know a decent amount of kanji
I need to do a bit more of.. Japanese language GET before I begin on the names. I’m thinking I could do with a Japanese language learning tool for the DS.. that would make sense.
@Kitsune, I’m just gonna guess… Maria?
@mellow bunny, there’s so many useful resources, but yea I like those DS learner. I’d so use them if I had a DS >.> hehe
i’m a sucker for historical surnames, some of which people still carry about. Names like: Oda, Minamoto, Taira, Tachibana…. I’ve gotten to where I can figure out Japanese surnames 90% of the time. The problem is the first names (especially male first names). Those are ridiculously hard.