noun
A personal motto or saying one keeps in mind as a guide for life. Often written down and placed where it can be seen daily. The synonymous phrase 座右の銘 (ざゆうのめい) is more common in modern Japanese.
See also: 座右の銘 (ざゆうのめい)
彼の座右銘は「継続は力なり」だ。
His motto is 'Perseverance is power.'
座右銘として「一期一会」を心に刻んでいる。
I keep 'Treasure every encounter' in mind as my motto.
More common and natural phrasing for 'motto' in modern Japanese. 座右銘 is a slightly more compact, literary variant.
From 座右 (ざゆう, 'at one's side') + 銘 (めい, 'inscription'), literally 'an inscription kept at one's side'. The reading ざうめい reflects historical kana usage.