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Yanaka 田中 – Japanese surname

Yanaka (田中) is read やなか and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 田中, the characters mean: rice field + in. This reading can be written with at least 9 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 14 strokes in total.

How to write Yanaka in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
田中	やなか	rice field + in	9
家中	やなか	house + in	14
谷中	やなか	valley + in	11
屋中	やなか	roof + in	13
矢中	やなか	dart + in	9
谷仲	やなか	valley + go-between	13

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

The kanji in Yanaka

田

rice field, rice paddy

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: デン Kun: た

中

in, inside, middle, mean

4 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: チュウ Kun: なか、うち、あた

家

house, home, family, professional

10 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: カ、ケ Kun: いえ、や、うち

谷

valley

7 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: コク Kun: たに、きわ

Yanaka in different scripts

Romaji	Yanaka
Hiragana	やなか
Katakana	ヤナカ
Kanji (most common)	田中

Full name examples

Ayumi Yanaka (Japanese order: 田中歩美, やなかあゆみ)
Yurina Yanaka (Japanese order: 田中百合奈, やなかゆりな)
Yuki Yanaka (Japanese order: 田中結城, やなかゆうき)

How to pronounce Yanaka

Break it into 3 parts: ya · na · ka. 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 やなか.

Questions about Yanaka

What does Yanaka mean in Japanese?

Yanaka has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 田中, combines these meanings: rice field + in. Other spellings include 家中 (house + in), 谷中 (valley + in), 屋中 (roof + in).

How do you write Yanaka in kanji?

The most common way is 田中 (やなか). It can also be written 家中, 谷中, 屋中, 矢中, 谷仲.

How do you write Yanaka in katakana?

Yanaka is ヤナカ in katakana and やなか in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Yanaka?

Yanaka is read やなか and has 3 syllables (morae).

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Themes: Nature

Other surnames that use 田

田: rice field, rice paddy

Aida 会田 Eda 会田 Fujita 藤田 Fukuda 福田 Goda 後田 Hada 八田 Handa 反田 Harada 原田 Harita 治田 Hata 八田 Hirata 開田 Hiroka 田中

Names with a similar sound

Yanagi 八柳 Yanai 野内 Yano 八野

Similar last names by meaning

Agata 安方 Aida 会田 Aijima 会島 Aikawa 会川 Aishima 会島 Akagi 明木 Akaki 明木 Amagai 天海