名めい人じん

め

い

じ

ん

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

master; expert

General term for a person with outstanding skill in a field, art, or craft. Often used with respect.

彼かれは将しょう棋ぎの名めい人じんだ。
He is a master of shogi.
あの職しょく人にんはまさに名めい人じんと呼よぶにふさわしい。
That craftsman truly deserves to be called a master.

noun

Meijin (shogi/go title)

shogi go (game)

Professional title in shogi and go, awarded to the top player. Often used in the context of the Meijin tournament (名人戦).

See also: 名人戦 (めいじんせん) · 名人戦 (めいじんせん)

彼かれは名めい人じん戦せんで防ぼう衛えいに成せい功こうした。
He successfully defended his title in the Meijin match.

noun

Meijin (karuta title)

card games

Highest title for male players in competitive karuta. The female equivalent is Queen (クイーン).

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の名めい人じんa master of (an art, skill, or activity)
彼かれは料りょう理りの名めい人じんだ。
He is a master of cooking.
名めい人じんと呼よばれるto be called/known as a master
彼かの女じょは書しょ道どうの名めい人じんと呼よばれている。
She is known as a master of calligraphy.
名めい人じんになるto become a master/champion
長ながい修しゅ行ぎょうを経へて、彼かれは将しょう棋ぎの名めい人じんになった。
After long training, he became a shogi Meijin.

Expressions

名めい人じんは人ひとを謗そしらずan accomplished person does not find fault with others; it is petty to criticize

Kanji

名name, noted, distinguished
人person

Related words· 7

達たつ人じん sense 1
達人 emphasizes mastery attained through long, dedicated practice, while 名人 stresses widely recognized skill and artistry, often in a specific traditional field.
玄人くろうとN1sense 1
玄人 simply means a professional or seasoned expert as opposed to an amateur, whereas 名人 implies exceptional, celebrated skill.
巨きょ匠しょうN1sense 1
巨匠 is reserved for towering masters in fine arts or literature, while 名人 covers a broader range of skills and crafts, from cooking to games.
棋き聖せい
名人 is the traditional, highest-ranking title in go and shogi, while 棋聖 refers specifically to the winner of the modern Kisei tournament.

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名めい手しゅ
名人 suggests a recognized title or celebrated master status, while 名手 focuses on outstanding skill in a specific technique or role.
名めい優ゆう
名人 refers to a master or expert in any skill or field, whereas 名優 is limited to a celebrated actor.
大たい家かN1
名人 is used for someone with outstanding skill, often in traditional arts or games, while 大家 carries a more academic or scholarly nuance.

Opposites

素人しろうとN2sense 1
素人 means an amateur or unskilled person, the direct opposite of a 名人 who has achieved recognized mastery.

Don't confuse with

有ゆう名めい人じんN2sense 1
有名人 means a famous person (a celebrity), while 名人 means a master of a skill and does not imply general fame.
著ちょ名めい人じんN2
名人 means a master or expert at a skill (e.g. 将棋の名人), not a famous public figure like 著名人, despite the similar kanji and sound.

Word family· 7

有ゆう名めい人じんN2
celebrity; famous person; public figure
著ちょ名めい人じんN2
celebrity; prominent figure; well-known person
名めい人じん肌はだ
artist's temperament; master's temperament
名めい人じん芸げい
masterful performance; virtuosity
名めい人じん上手じょうず
person who is a cut above the rest; outstanding person

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名めい人じん気質かたぎ
artist's temperament; master's temperament
女じょ流りゅう名めい人じん
female master; woman expert; leading female figure

Etymology

From 名 (めい, 'name, fame') + 人 (じん, 'person'), literally 'person of renown'. The term has been used historically to refer to highly skilled individuals, and later became a formal title in board games and karuta.