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Minamoto 南本 – Japanese surname

Minamoto (南本) is read みなもと and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 南本, the characters mean: south + book. This reading can be written with at least 12 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 8 to 18 strokes in total.

How to write Minamoto in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
南本	みなもと	south + book	14
水元	みなもと	water + beginning	8
港元	みなもと	harbor + beginning	16
源本	みなもと	source + book	18
源元	みなもと	source + beginning	17
皆本	みなもと	all + book	14

Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.

The kanji in Minamoto

南

south

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: ナン、ナ Kun: みなみ

本

book, present, main, origin

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: ホン Kun: もと

水

water

4 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: スイ Kun: みず

元

beginning, former time, origin

4 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: ゲン、ガン Kun: もと

港

harbor

12 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: コウ Kun: みなと

Minamoto in different scripts

Romaji	Minamoto
Hiragana	みなもと
Katakana	ミナモト
Kanji (most common)	南本

Full name examples

Ayumi Minamoto (Japanese order: 南本歩美, みなもとあゆみ)
Yurina Minamoto (Japanese order: 南本百合奈, みなもとゆりな)
Yuki Minamoto (Japanese order: 南本結城, みなもとゆうき)

How to pronounce Minamoto

Break it into 4 parts: mi · na · mo · to. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 4 sound units are written みなもと.

Questions about Minamoto

What does Minamoto mean in Japanese?

Minamoto has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 南本, combines these meanings: south + book. Other spellings include 水元 (water + beginning), 港元 (harbor + beginning), 源本 (source + book).

How do you write Minamoto in kanji?

The most common way is 南本 (みなもと). It can also be written 水元, 港元, 源本, 源元, 皆本.

How do you write Minamoto in katakana?

Minamoto is ミナモト in katakana and みなもと in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Minamoto?

Minamoto is read みなもと and has 4 syllables (morae).

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Other surnames that use 南

南: south

Minami 南 Nanto 南東 Tanami 田南

Names with a similar sound

Minagawa 水川 Minai 水内 Minami 南 Minobe 三部 Minoshima 箕島 Minowa 三野