How to Say ‘Name (polite)’ in Japanese
おなまえ
おなまえ
💬 Usage Tip: [お] is an honorific prefix that makes words polite. The more common kanji form is [お名前].
🇯🇵 In Japan: When meeting someone new, asking [お名前は？] is normal, but adding [なんですか] or [何ですか] makes it more complete/polite.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
おお
[o]
(honorific prefix)
お is an honorific prefix used to make words more polite. In おなまえ, it shows respect when asking someone’s name.
おなまえ を おしえてください。
Please tell me your name.
なまえなまえ
[namae]
name
なまえ means “name.” With お, おなまえ becomes a polite way to say “your name.”
おなまえ は なんですか。
What is your name?
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