Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
身元 (みもと, mimoto) Japanese meaning: identity | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
もと
を
確かく
認にん
し
て
いる
。
The police are confirming the victim's identity.
I needed a guarantor when renting the apartment.
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
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
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
身み 元もと を 隠かく す to hide one's identity
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)
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 Related words 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.
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 unidentified; unidentifiable
personal reference; character reference
reference check; background check
Written forms 身み 元もと Usage 90%
Standard kanji spelling. High priority.
身み 許もと Usage 9%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
身み もと Usage 2%
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'.
He agreed to the interview but refused to reveal his identity.
元もと
確かく
認にん
identity verification; identification; background check
background check; identity investigation
Show 4 more personal guarantor; surety; character reference
personal reference letter; personal guarantee document
guarantor; surety; person responsible for another's behavior
reference (for a job, etc.)