異い名みょう

also: いめい

い

みょ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

another name; nickname; alias

General term for an alternative name, including nicknames, aliases, and pseudonyms. Not limited to formal contexts.

彼かれは「赤あかい彗すい星せい」という異い名みょうで知しられている。
He is known by the alias 'Red Comet'.
この植しょく物ぶつにはたくさんの異い名みょうがある。
This plant has many alternative names.

2

synonym (biology)

Only with reading いめい

Technical term in biology for a taxonomic synonym. Read いめい in this sense.

See also: シノニム

この学がく名めいにはいくつかの異い名めいが存そん在ざいする。
This scientific name has several synonyms.

See all 28 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉という異い名みょうを持もつto have the nickname/alias '~'
彼かれは「氷こおりの女じょ王おう」という異い名みょうを持もつ。
He has the nickname 'the Ice Queen.'
〈事こと〉という異い名みょうで呼よばれるto be known by the nickname '~'
この選せん手しゅは「怪かい物ぶつ」という異い名みょうで呼よばれている。
This player is known by the nickname 'the Monster.'

Expressions

異い名みょうを取とるearn the nickname; be dubbed

Kanji

異uncommon, different, queerness
名name, noted, distinguished

Related words

別べつ名めいN1sense 1
別名 is the neutral, everyday word for 'another name,' while 異名 usually implies a distinctive or memorable nickname.
シノニム sense 2
シノニム is the English loanword for a taxonomic synonym used in scientific writing, while 異名 (いめい) is the native Japanese term for the same concept in biology.
通つう称しょう sense 1
通称 refers to a name that is commonly and widely used, whereas 異名 can be any alternative name, even an obscure or literary one.
あだ名なN1sense 1
あだ名 is a casual, everyday nickname among friends or classmates, while 異名 often carries a grander or more legendary flavor.

Written forms

異名Usage100%
- いみょう
  Standard kanji spelling for the common reading いみょう.
- いめい
  Rare reading used only in the biological sense of 'synonym'.
いめい

Etymology

Compound of 異 (i, 'different') and 名 (myō/mei, 'name'). The reading いみょう is the standard on'yomi, while いめい is a less common variant used in specialized contexts.