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Imai 今井 – Japanese surname
Imai (今井) is read いまい and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 今井, the characters mean: now + well. This reading can be written with 3 kanji combinations, with 8 to 12 strokes in total.
About the name Imai
Imai (今井) means new well, a well dug recently.
How to write Imai in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 今井 | いまい | now + well | 8 |
| 今伊 | いまい | now + Italy | 10 |
| 今居 | いまい | now + reside | 12 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Imai
Imai in different scripts
| Romaji | Imai |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | いまい |
| Katakana | イマイ |
| Kanji (most common) | 今井 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Imai (Japanese order: 今井歩美, いまい あゆみ)
- Yurina Imai (Japanese order: 今井百合奈, いまい ゆりな)
- Yuki Imai (Japanese order: 今井結城, いまい ゆうき)
How to pronounce Imai
Break it into 2 parts: i · mai. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 3 sound units are written いまい.
Questions about Imai
What does Imai mean in Japanese?
Imai has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 今井, combines these meanings: now + well. Other spellings include 今伊 (now + Italy), 今居 (now + reside).
How do you write Imai in kanji?
The most common way is 今井 (いまい). It can also be written 今伊, 今居.
How do you write Imai in katakana?
Imai is イマイ in katakana and いまい in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Imai?
Imai is read いまい and has 3 syllables (morae).
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Other surnames that use 今
今: now
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.