姓せい名めい判はん断だん

noun

name-based fortune-telling

A traditional Japanese practice of analyzing a person's name by the number of strokes in its kanji characters (and sometimes by pronunciation) to predict personality, compatibility, or luck.

• 子こ供どもの名な前まえを決きめるとき、姓せい名めい判はん断だんを参さん考こうにする親おやも多おおい。

  Many parents consult name-based fortune-telling when deciding their child's name.

• 姓せい名めい判はん断だんでは、画かく数すうが運うん勢せいに影えい響きょうすると考かんがえられている。

  In name-based fortune-telling, the number of strokes is believed to influence one's fortune.