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Kotani 小谷 – Japanese surname
Kotani (小谷) is read こたに and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 小谷, the characters mean: little + valley. This reading can be written with at least 24 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 10 to 16 strokes in total.
About the name Kotani
Kotani (小谷) means small valley.
How to write Kotani in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 小谷 | こたに | little + valley | 10 |
| 子谷 | こたに | child + valley | 10 |
| 木谷 | こたに | tree + valley | 11 |
| 古谷 | こたに | old + valley | 12 |
| 戸谷 | こたに | door + valley | 11 |
| 故谷 | こたに | happenstance + valley | 16 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Kotani
Kotani in different scripts
| Romaji | Kotani |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | こたに |
| Katakana | コタニ |
| Kanji (most common) | 小谷 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Kotani (Japanese order: 小谷歩美, こたに あゆみ)
- Yurina Kotani (Japanese order: 小谷百合奈, こたに ゆりな)
- Yuki Kotani (Japanese order: 小谷結城, こたに ゆうき)
How to pronounce Kotani
Break it into 3 parts: ko · ta · ni. 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 こたに.
Questions about Kotani
What does Kotani mean in Japanese?
Kotani has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 小谷, combines these meanings: little + valley. Other spellings include 子谷 (child + valley), 木谷 (tree + valley), 古谷 (old + valley).
How do you write Kotani in kanji?
The most common way is 小谷 (こたに). It can also be written 子谷, 木谷, 古谷, 戸谷, 故谷.
How do you write Kotani in katakana?
Kotani is コタニ in katakana and こたに in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Kotani?
Kotani is read こたに and has 3 syllables (morae).
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Themes: Nature
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小: little, small
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Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.