group-level written forms
Canonical reference record
JMnedict-backedKANJIDIC2 character context
Reference coverageDistinct recorded spellings10 Source spelling/reading rows10 Coverage levelExtended
Extended source depth
This reading group has a comparatively broad dictionary footprint across source-recorded spellings or records. The counts describe corpus coverage, not real-world popularity.
records contributing to this reading group
based only on the imported source footprint
Pronunciation & romanization
How to read U
The kana reading is source-recorded. Romanization and mora segmentation are deterministic reading aids generated from that kana; pitch accent is not inferred.
Normalized to hiragana for comparison.
The same reading converted to katakana.
Macron-style display. Vowel-sequence form: U. Personal spelling and true vowel boundaries can differ.
1 mora in this reading. Small ゃ/ゅ/ょ-type kana join the preceding mora.
Audio note: the play button uses Japanese text-to-speech provided by the visitor’s browser/device. It is a convenience preview, not a recorded native-speaker pronunciation or pitch-accent authority.
Meaning by written form
What can U mean?
A Japanese name can be written in more than one way, and its meaning can change with the kanji used. Rather than assigning one English meaning to “U”, this page explains each recorded spelling separately.
character meanings available
no kanji meaning attached
based on the exact written form
Kanji spelling
于
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
伍
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
千
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
呉
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
宇
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
巫
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
禹
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
胡
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
韋
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
鵜
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
How to read these meanings
The English words shown here are dictionary meanings of individual kanji. They help explain what a spelling can suggest, but they are not a guaranteed translation of the full name and do not establish why a particular person was given that name.
Reading profile
How U is represented
These counts describe records in the imported name corpus. They are not a ranking of how popular a spelling is among people in Japan.
う
among the forms analyzed on this page
in the primary dictionary reading
small ゃ/ゅ/ょ-type kana combine with the preceding mora
recorded spellings
JMnedict classification evidence
How this reading is classified in the source corpus
This separates dictionary classification from popularity. The same exact kana reading can be recorded as a given name, a surname, or both, and given-name records can carry male, female or unspecified source labels.
う in the imported JMnedict corpus
1 source spelling/reading row
10 source spelling/reading rows
row counts carrying each JMnedict source label
| Exact reading | Given-name evidence | Given-name labels | Surname evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| うU | 11 source row | unspecified 1source rows · distinct forms: unspecified 1 | 1010 source rows |
Classification boundary: male/female/unspecified are labels attached to imported JMnedict name records. They are not population shares, probabilities, identity claims, or evidence that a spelling is currently common in Japan. A source row can also be repeated across different written forms, so row counts and distinct-writing counts are shown separately.
Spelling anatomy
Corpus structure behind U
This section summarizes the exact source-recorded forms loaded for this reading group. Stroke and character-position statistics are descriptive corpus properties, not popularity or style scores.
3–18 strokes observed span
among forms with complete KANJIDIC2 stroke data
all component kanji loaded as jōyō/jinmeiyō classes
contains at least one character outside that loaded classification
| Reading | Romanization | Morae | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| う | U | 1 | 10 |
Reading ambiguity
Can the same writing be read another way?
8 of 10 displayed written forms have more than one surname reading somewhere in the active JMnedict corpus. This is dictionary-record ambiguity, not a prediction of how a particular person reads the name.
distinct spellings displayed on this page
exact written forms with 2+ source readings
within this active surname corpus
distinct kana readings for one displayed writing
呉
千
7 source-recorded readings
胡
7 source-recorded readings
伍
于
宇
2 source-recorded readings
IeいえUう · this page
巫
2 source-recorded readings
Uう · this pageFuふ
韋
2 source-recorded readings
IいUう · this page
A reading shown without a link is still source-recorded, but its destination group does not yet meet the reference-depth standard used for the main library. Limited records are not promoted merely to create extra internal links.
Kanji role reference
How recurring characters function across U spellings
Position counts are calculated only from the distinct written forms analyzed for this page. KANJIDIC2 nanori are character-level name-reading references; they are not used here to decompose or assert the reading of a specific multi-kanji name.
| Kanji | Character glosses | Forms | First | Final | Internal | Solo | Strokes | KANJIDIC2 nanori | Loaded class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 于 | going, from | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | — | Unclassified in the loaded KANJIDIC grade field |
| 伍 | five, five-man squad, file | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | くみ, あつむ | Jinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9 |
| 千 | thousand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | かず, ゆき | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1 |
| 呉 | give, do something for, kingdom of Wu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | ぐ | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8 |
| 宇 | eaves, roof, house | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | いえ, たか, ひろ, ひろし | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 6 |
| 巫 | sorcerer, medium, shrine maiden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | — | Jinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9 |
| 禹 | name of a Chinese emperor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | — | Unclassified in the loaded KANJIDIC grade field |
| 胡 | barbarian, foreign | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | えびす, くる | Jinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9 |
| 韋 | tanned leather radical (no. 178) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | — | Unclassified in the loaded KANJIDIC grade field |
| 鵜 | cormorant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | — | Jinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9 |
Counts describe this source-recorded spelling set, not population use. A repeated kanji can contribute to more than one position role across different spellings.
Exact writing research map
Move from a spelling to its readings, characters and literal sequence context
These relationships are exact and source-backed. Whole-name readings shown in each card come from JMnedict within the current name class; exact-writing search can surface records from other name classes. Character links open KANJIDIC2-backed kanji pages. Sequence context means the same kanji string occurs contiguously in another recorded written form—it does not prove shared origin or meaning.
Exact written form
于
Characters in order
Exact written form
伍
Characters in order
Exact written form
千
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Characters in order
Exact written form
呉
Characters in order
Exact written form
宇
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
IeいえUう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
巫
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Uう · this pageFuふ
Characters in order
Exact written form
禹
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Uう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
胡
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Characters in order
Exact written form
韋
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
IいUう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
鵜
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Uう · this page
Characters in order
Same reading, different writing
Explore written forms of U
10 source-recorded forms use the primary source reading う. Other source readings can appear in this romanized group when the imported records converge on the same index form. Use Compare to inspect exact spellings side by side.
于
う · U
Character-set checkContains at least one kanji outside the loaded jōyō/jinmeiyō classification
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
伍
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
千
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
呉
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
宇
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded reading
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
巫
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded reading
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
禹
う · U
Character-set checkContains at least one kanji outside the loaded jōyō/jinmeiyō classification
胡
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
韋
う · U
Character-set checkContains at least one kanji outside the loaded jōyō/jinmeiyō classification
Same writing, other recorded reading
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
鵜
う · U
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Spelling comparator
Compare U forms side by side
Each exact written spelling appears once in this table even when JMnedict records more than one reading for that writing. Stroke totals and character glosses come from KANJIDIC2 when all component kanji are available.
| Spelling | One source reading | Character-level glosses | Total strokes | Loaded character class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 于 | う | 于 — going, from | 3 | Includes unclassified/outside loaded jōyō-jinmeiyō class |
| 伍 | う | 伍 — five, five-man squad | 6 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 千 | う | 千 — thousand | 3 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 呉 | う | 呉 — give, do something for | 7 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 宇 | う | 宇 — eaves, roof | 6 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 巫 | う | 巫 — sorcerer, medium | 7 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 禹 | う | 禹 — name of a Chinese emperor | 9 | Includes unclassified/outside loaded jōyō-jinmeiyō class |
| 胡 | う | 胡 — barbarian, foreign | 9 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 韋 | う | 韋 — tanned leather radical (no. 178) | 10 | Includes unclassified/outside loaded jōyō-jinmeiyō class |
| 鵜 | う | 鵜 — cormorant | 18 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
What does U mean?
There is not necessarily one fixed English meaning. The reading identifies the spoken name; different written forms can use different kanji. Character glosses describe individual kanji and should not be treated as proof of the intention behind a particular person’s name.
Related readings
More surnames beginning with う
Related by the opening kana of the dictionary reading. This is a deterministic browsing relationship, not a claim that the names share the same meaning.
Surname · limited reference
Usui
21 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUno
19 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUeno
15 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUnosawa
15 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUtsugi
15 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceIto
14 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUda
14 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUtsumi
14 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUe
13 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUeda
13 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUta
12 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceUtsuki
12 recorded spellings
Explore →Shared-kanji relationships
Other surnames sharing kanji with U
These links are calculated from exact characters appearing in source-recorded spellings on this page. Sharing a kanji does not mean two names have the same reading, origin, gender or intended meaning.
Surname relationship
Umoto
宇禹鵜
3 shared kanji · 4 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUhara
宇禹鵜
3 shared kanji · 3 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipGo
伍呉胡
3 shared kanji · 3 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUyama
宇禹鵜
3 shared kanji · 3 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUnosawa
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 13 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUnozawa
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 10 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipGotō
伍呉
2 shared kanji · 7 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUno
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 6 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUki
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 6 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUkai
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 6 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUdo
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 6 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipUda
宇鵜
2 shared kanji · 5 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Evidence on this page
What each source establishes
JMnedict establishes recorded written forms, readings and name classifications; where safely associated, this page can also show JMnedict-supplied trans_det source text without treating it as a whole-name meaning. KANJIDIC2 supplies character readings, nanori, stroke counts, grade classes and English character glosses. The Ministry of Justice remains the official reference for Japanese child-name character rules. The Agency for Cultural Affairs romanization guidance is the reference for generated Latin-script reading aids.
Source boundary
The spelling-frequency and structural counts on this page are calculated from imported JMnedict records. They are corpus counts, not population-frequency claims. KANJIDIC2 supplies the kanji metadata used in character and stroke comparisons.
Review sources →