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Kobe 神戸 – Japanese surname
Kobe (神戸) is read こべ and has 2 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 神戸, the characters mean: gods + door. This reading can be written with at least 17 different kanji combinations (the 3 most common are shown below), with 8 to 14 strokes in total.
About the name Kobe
Kobe (神戸) means god door. The port city of Kobe carries the same name.
How to write Kobe in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 神戸 | こべ | gods + door | 13 |
| 小部 | こべ | little + section | 14 |
| 小辺 | こべ | little + environs | 8 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Kobe
Kobe in different scripts
| Romaji | Kobe |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | こべ |
| Katakana | コベ |
| Kanji (most common) | 神戸 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Kobe (Japanese order: 神戸歩美, こべ あゆみ)
- Yurina Kobe (Japanese order: 神戸百合奈, こべ ゆりな)
- Yuki Kobe (Japanese order: 神戸結城, こべ ゆうき)
How to pronounce Kobe
Break it into 2 parts: ko · be. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 2 sound units are written こべ.
Questions about Kobe
What does Kobe mean in Japanese?
Kobe has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 神戸, combines these meanings: gods + door. Other spellings include 小部 (little + section), 小辺 (little + environs).
How do you write Kobe in kanji?
The most common way is 神戸 (こべ). It can also be written 小部, 小辺.
How do you write Kobe in katakana?
Kobe is コベ in katakana and こべ in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Kobe?
Kobe is read こべ and has 2 syllables (morae).
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Other surnames that use 神
神: gods, mind, soul
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.