身み元もと

み

も

と

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

identity; background; birth and parentage

Refers to a person's identity, including their name, background, upbringing, and family origins. Often used in formal or official contexts such as 身元調査 (background check) or 身元保証人 (guarantor).

警けい察さつは被ひ害がい者しゃの身み元もとを確かく認にんしている。
The police are confirming the victim's identity.
アパートを借かりるときに身み元もと保ほ証しょう人にんが必ひつ要ようだった。
I needed a guarantor when renting the apartment.

noun

character; personal history

A less common, somewhat dated usage referring to a person's character or moral standing as inferred from their background. Often overlaps with sense 1 in phrases like 身元が確か (of good character/background).

身み元もとの確たしかな人ひとを紹しょう介かいしてください。
Please introduce someone of reputable character.

See all 87 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の身み元もとを確かく認にんするto confirm/verify someone's identity
警けい察さつは事じ故こに遭あった男だん性せいの身み元もとを確かく認にんした。
The police confirmed the identity of the man involved in the accident.
身み元もとが判はん明めいするfor someone's identity to become known/be determined
遺い体たいの身み元もとがようやく判はん明めいした。
The identity of the body was finally determined.
身み元もとを明あきらかにするto reveal one's identity
彼かれは取しゅ材ざいに応おうじたが、身み元もとを明あきらかにすることは拒こばんだ。
He agreed to the interview but refused to reveal his identity.
身み元もとを隠かくすto hide one's identity
犯はん人にんは偽ぎ名めいを使つかって身み元もとを隠かくしていた。
The culprit hid his identity by using a false name.
身み元もとが確たしかだto be of verified/reliable background (character)
身み元もとが確たしかな人ひとでなければ、この仕し事ごとは任まかせられない。
This job can't be entrusted to anyone whose background isn't verified.

Kanji

身somebody, person, one's station in life
元beginning, former time, origin
許permit, approve

Related words

素す性じょう sense 1
素性 overlaps with 身元 in meaning 'background/origin' but often implies something hidden or suspicious, while 身元 is the neutral term used in official identity checks.
経けい歴れきN1sense 1
経歴 focuses on a person's career and life history (education, jobs), whereas 身元 focuses on who someone is (name, family, origin) for identification purposes.
正しょう体たいN1sense 1
正体 means one's true, often concealed, identity or nature (e.g. a criminal's real self), while 身元 is the more official, documentable identity used for verification.

Don't confuse with

身み分ぶんN2sense 1
身分 refers to one's social status or rank (e.g. student, employee), while 身元 refers to one's personal identity and background (name, family, origin).
身み柄がらN1
身元 refers to a person's identity or background (name, address, history), while 身柄 refers to physical custody or control over that person's body.
アイデンティティN1
身元 refers to a person's identity in the administrative sense (name, address, background, as checked by police or officials), while アイデンティティ concerns one's inner sense of self.

Word family· 9

身み元もと不ふ明めい
unidentified; unidentifiable
身み元もと保ほ証しょう
personal reference; character reference
身み元もと照しょう会かい
reference check; background check
身み元もと確かく認にん
identity verification; identification; background check
身み元もと調ちょう査さ
background check; identity investigation

Show 4 more

身み元もと保ほ証しょう人にん
personal guarantor; surety; character reference
身み元もと保ほ証しょう書しょ
personal reference letter; personal guarantee document
身み元もと引ひき受うけ人にん
guarantor; surety; person responsible for another's behavior
身み元もと照しょう会かい先さき
reference (for a job, etc.)

Built from

身み+元もと

Written forms

身み元もとUsage90%
Standard kanji spelling. High priority.
身み許もとUsage9%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
身みもとUsage2%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form.

Etymology

Compound of 身 (み, 'body, oneself') and 元 (もと, 'origin, source'). The spelling 身許 uses 許 ('permit, place') as an alternative character, likely reflecting the idea of one's 'place' or 'standing'.