止とめ字じ

noun

kanji character commonly used at the end of given names

Refers to a kanji that frequently appears as the final character in Japanese given names, such as 郎, 子, 美, 太, 彦, etc. Used in discussions of naming conventions.

• 「太た郎ろう」や「花はな子こ」の「郎ろう」や「子こ」は止とめ字じと呼よばれる。

  The 郎 in 太郎 and the 子 in 花子 are called 止め字.

• 止とめ字じには、性せい別べつを表あらわすものもある。

  Some 止め字 indicate gender.