異い名みょう

also: いめい

い

みょ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

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

noun

synonym (biology)

biology

Only with reading いめい

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

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.