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Inoue 井上 – Japanese surname
Inoue (井上) is read いのうえ and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 井上, the characters mean: well + above. This reading can be written with at least 10 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 7 to 23 strokes in total.
About the name Inoue
Inoue (井上) means above the well. It points to a household living upslope from the village water source.
How to write Inoue in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 井上 | いのうえ | well + above | 7 |
| 山本 | いのうえ | mountain + book | 8 |
| 居上 | いのうえ | reside + above | 11 |
| 井植 | いのうえ | well + plant | 16 |
| 猪上 | いのうえ | boar + above | 14 |
| 猪植 | いのうえ | boar + plant | 23 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Inoue
Inoue in different scripts
| Romaji | Inoue |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | いのうえ |
| Katakana | イノウエ |
| Kanji (most common) | 井上 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Inoue (Japanese order: 井上歩美, いのうえ あゆみ)
- Yurina Inoue (Japanese order: 井上百合奈, いのうえ ゆりな)
- Yuki Inoue (Japanese order: 井上結城, いのうえ ゆうき)
How to pronounce Inoue
Break it into 2 parts: i · noue. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. Long vowels are held a beat longer. The 4 sound units are written いのうえ.
Questions about Inoue
What does Inoue mean in Japanese?
Inoue has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 井上, combines these meanings: well + above. Other spellings include 山本 (mountain + book), 居上 (reside + above), 井植 (well + plant).
How do you write Inoue in kanji?
The most common way is 井上 (いのうえ). It can also be written 山本, 居上, 井植, 猪上, 猪植.
How do you write Inoue in katakana?
Inoue is イノウエ in katakana and いのうえ in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Inoue?
Inoue is read いのうえ and has 4 syllables (morae).
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Themes: Nature
Other surnames that use 井
井: well, well crib, town
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Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.