In Japanese culture, kanji are characters that originated from Chinese script, and the meaning of a name changes depending on the kanji characters chosen. A name with only one kanji variation is considered unique and rare in Japan. Below is the kanji representation of "Kotabi."
Heart - Heart (心) in Japanese represents both the physical heart and the mind/spirit. May your child's heart be pure and their mind clear, unified in purpose.
Mind - Mind represents thought, reason, and the faculty of understanding. May your child's mind be sharp, reasoning clearly and understanding deeply.
Core - The core represents essence, center, and fundamental truth. May your child stay true to their core values.
Center - The center represents balance, stability, and being at the heart of things. May your child find their center, balanced and stable at the heart of their world.
Feelings - Feeling represents emotional intelligence, empathy, and human connection. May your child feel deeply, connecting with others through empathy.
Spirit - Spirit represents the immortal essence, energy, and the divine spark within. May your child's spirit burn brightly, their divine spark illuminating the world.
Travel - Traveling represents journey, experience, and broadening perspective. May your child travel well through life's journey.
Trip - Trip- An Excursion; a voyage - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of trip throughout life.
Army - Measurement enables fair assessment and proper understanding. May your child measure what matters by proper standards.
ManyPeople - Many represents abundance, community, and the richness of diverse connections. May your child be blessed with many friends, many joys, and many blessings.
War - War reminds us of peace's value and the importance of conflict resolution. May your child work for peace, understanding war's terrible cost.
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What is Hiragana?
Hiragana is one of the two Japanese syllabaries. Each character represents a sound (mora), not a meaning. It is used for native words, grammatical particles, verb/adjective endings (okurigana), and to show pronunciation above kanji (furigana). It developed from cursive forms of kanji.
What is Katakana?
Katakana is one of the two Japanese syllabaries. Each character represents a sound (mora), not a meaning. It is mainly used to write foreign words and names, loanwords, onomatopoeia, and for emphasis.
What are English Syllables?
A syllable is a unit of pronunciation in English — it’s the beat you hear when you say a word.
Here are a few quick examples: cat = 1 syllable ba-by = 2 syllables beau-ti-ful = 3 syllables
On this site, English Syllables show how a name naturally breaks into sounds when spoken in English. This helps you understand how English speakers naturally say the name and where they pause between sounds.
What are Japanese Morae?
A mora (plural: morae, Japanese: 拍 Haku) is the basic unit of sound in Japanese — think of it as one rhythmic “beat” when speaking.
Here are a few quick examples: あ (a) = 1 mora あい (a-i) = 2 morae きょう (kyo-u) = 2 morae
On this site, Japanese Morae show how many “beats” a name has in Japanese. Most Japanese names have about 2–4 morae, which affects how natural and rhythmic the name sounds to native speakers.
This helps you see how the name fits into the natural rhythm of Japanese speech.
What is English Transcription?
“English transcription” (romanization) is the romanized form of a Japanese name, intended to reproduce its pronunciation as closely as possible. It is also useful for searching names on this site.
Japanese-Style Nicknames
In Japan, nicknames are used to express familiarity and affection. Typical features include:
Shortened forms: Names are often shortened for closeness, e.g., “Yuki” from “Yukiko” or “Taka” from “Takashi”.
Suffixes: Terms like “-chan” (often for girls, also for young children) and “-kun” (often for boys) are used among family and close friends. Among very close adults, “-chan” may still be used. More details
Use & context: Nicknames are informal—common among friends, family, or close colleagues—and are not suitable for formal or professional settings. Their use implies a certain degree of intimacy.
Long vowels: The long vowel mark “chōonpu” (ー) extends the preceding vowel. For example, “あーちゃん” (A-chan) lengthens the “あ” sound.
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Kotabi
:こたび 