日本历史上的“氏”、“姓”、“名字”和“苗字”

"Family name" "Surname" "Namae" "Myoji" in Japanese History

现代社会,人人都有自己的姓氏,但是在明治维新以前的日本,姓氏是身份的象征,是上流阶层的特权的体现。"氏"、"姓"、"苗字"和"名字"这四个词在现代日语中都表示"姓"的意思,日本人在日常使用中也基本不作区分。不过,从历史角度来看,它们分别有不同的含义。

In modern society, everyone has his own surname. But before Meiji Restoration, surname was the symbol of status and the privilege of the upper class in Japan. The following four words, ＂Family name＂ ＂surname＂ ＂namae＂ ＂myoji＂, all mean ＂surname＂ in modern Japanese, which won＇ t be distinguished in their daily use. But historicaUy, they have different meanings.