名めい台詞せりふ

also: めいセリフ · めいゼリフ · めいぜりふ

JLPTN2

Meanings

noun

famous line; famous quote

Refers to a memorable or iconic line from a movie, book, play, or speech. Often used in entertainment contexts.

この映えい画がには名めい台詞せりふがたくさんある。
This movie has many famous lines.
彼かれのスピーチの最さい後ごの言こと葉ばは名めい台詞せりふとして語かたり継つがれている。
The last words of his speech have been passed down as a famous quote.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

名台詞めいせりふを言いうto say/deliver a famous line
主しゅ人じん公こうが名めい台詞せりふを言いうシーンは何なん度ど見みても感かん動どうする。
The scene where the hero delivers his famous line moves me every time I watch it.
名台詞めいせりふを残のこすto leave behind a famous line
その映えい画がは多おおくの名めい台詞せりふを残のこした。
That movie left behind many famous lines.
名台詞めいせりふが生うまれるfor a famous line to be born (from a work)
このドラマから数かず々かずの名めい台詞せりふが生うまれた。
Numerous famous lines came out of this drama.
名台詞めいせりふになるto become a famous line
彼かれの一ひと言ことが後のちに名めい台詞せりふになった。
His one remark later became a famous line.

Kanji

名name, noted, distinguished
台pedestal, a stand, counter for machines and vehicles
詞part of speech, words, poetry

Related words

名めい言げん
名言 is a wise or famous saying often attributed to a real person, while 名台詞 refers specifically to a memorable line from a movie, play, or book.
決きめ台詞ぜりふ
決め台詞 is a signature catchphrase a character repeats, while 名台詞 is any single line that became famous, whether repeated or not.
名めい句く
名句 usually refers to a famous phrase or verse, often poetic or literary, while 名台詞 is tied to spoken dialogue in a script or performance.

Written forms

名台詞Usage47%
- めいせりふ
  Standard kanji spelling using 台詞 for せりふ. Also read めいぜりふ.
- めいぜりふ
名めいゼリフUsage47%
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling with voiced ゼ. Less common than 名セリフ.
名めいぜりふUsage6%
Mixed kanji-hiragana spelling with voiced ぜ. Rarely used.
名めいセリフ
Common mixed kanji-katakana spelling. Katakana セリフ is widely used for 'lines/dialogue'.
名めいせりふ
Mixed kanji-hiragana spelling. Hiragana せりふ is a softer written variant.
めいぜりふ
めいセリフ
めいゼリフ

Etymology

Compound of 名 (めい, 'famous') and 台詞 (せりふ, 'line/dialogue'). The word 台詞 itself is of uncertain origin, possibly from 競り (せり, 'bidding') + 言ふ (いう, 'to say') or a contraction of 科白 (しろ, 'gesture') + 言ふ.