Meaning
The kanji 称 (shō, tataeru, tonaeru) primarily conveys meanings of 'naming,' 'calling,' and 'praising.' Essentially, it describes the act of giving something a name, referring to it, or expressing admiration. Though less common in modern Japanese, it can also imply suitability or proportion, a sense rooted in its older etymological origins.
Historically, 称 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-hand radical, 禾 (nogi-hen), literally means 'grain' or 'harvest.' While this might seem unconnected at first glance, 禾 often appears in characters related to measurement, balance, or proportionality, such as 秤 (weighing scale). The right-hand component, 尔 (ni), serves as the phonetic element, providing the 'shō' sound. It also potentially conveys a sense of 'like' or 'that.' Originally, the combination referred to weighing or balancing. This meaning then extended to judging suitability, and further, to giving an appropriate name or praising someone's merits. These evaluations and designations form the root of the modern dominant meanings: 'to name,' 'to call,' and 'to praise.'
This kanji consists of 10 strokes and is a Joyo Kanji. Instead of being assigned a specific grade level from 1 to 6, it falls under the 'S' (secondary school) category, indicating its importance for general learning. To truly understand its subtleties, grasp its dual connection to both designation and commendation.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi for 称 is ショウ (shō). You'll frequently encounter this reading in compound words and formal expressions, especially when the kanji signifies names, titles, praise, or general terms.
名称 (meishō) — This compound means 'name' or 'appellation.' It refers to the official or commonly used name of something, often a product, organization, or place. For instance, a company's legal name would be its 名称.
敬称 (keishō) — Referring to an 'honorific title' or 'form of address,' such as さん (san), 様 (sama), or 殿 (dono). It signifies a respectful way of addressing someone.
称賛 (shōsan) — This word means 'praise' or 'admiration.' It is used when expressing strong approval or commendation for someone's actions, achievements, or qualities.
自称 (jishō) — Meaning 'self-proclaimed' or 'self-styled.' It describes someone who calls themselves something, often without official recognition or proof.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The main Kun'yomi for 称 are たたえる (tataeru) and となえる (tonaeru).
たたえる (tataeru) — This verb means 'to praise,' 'to laud,' or 'to glorify.' Use it to express admiration or commendation for a person, their achievements, or their virtues.
功績を称える (kōseki wo tataeru) — To praise achievements.
彼の勇気を称える (kare no yūki wo tataeru) — To praise his courage.
となえる (tonaeru) — This verb means 'to call oneself,' 'to claim to be,' or 'to profess.' While it shares a reading with 唱える (to recite, to chant), 称える specifically refers to asserting one's identity or status. Note that the form 称する (tonasuru) is also very common.
弁護士と称える (bengoshi to tonaeru) — To call oneself a lawyer.
専門家と称する (senmonka to tonasuru) — To claim to be an expert.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 称 features in many common Japanese words, typically related to names, titles, and expressions of praise. Let's look at some key examples, grouped by theme:
Naming and Titles
名称 (meishō) — name, appellation (e.g., 製品の名称: product name, 会社の名称: company name)
敬称 (keishō) — honorific title (e.g., 敬称略 : honorifics omitted)
愛称 (aishō) — pet name, nickname (e.g., 彼女の愛称: her nickname)
総称 (sōshō) — general term, generic name (e.g., 動物の総称: a general term for animals)
通称 (tsūshō) — common name, popular name (e.g., 通称名 : common name, alias)
呼称 (koshō) — appellation, naming, calling (e.g., 正式呼称 : official name/appellation)
Praise and Commendation
称賛 (shōsan) — praise, admiration, commendation (e.g., 称賛に値する : worthy of praise)
称揚 (shōyō) — praise, exaltation (often used in more formal or literary contexts)
称えまつる (tataematsuru) — to praise, to revere (a humble form of たたえる, showing respect)
Claiming and Professing
自称 (jishō) — self-proclaimed, self-styled (e.g., 自称医者 : self-proclaimed doctor)
称する (tonasuru) — to call oneself, to claim to be (e.g., 彼は学者と称する : he claims to be a scholar)
Proportion and Suitability (Less Common)
- 均称 (kinshō) — well-proportioned, symmetrical (e.g., 建物の均称: the symmetry of a building)
These compounds illustrate the versatility of 称 in conveying ideas of identification, respect, and approval across various contexts.
Example Sentences
彼の行動は多くの人に称賛された。
Kare no kōdō wa ooku no hito ni shōsan sareta.
His actions were praised by many people.
その女優は美しさと才能を兼そろえていると称えられている。
Sono joyū wa utsukushisa to sainō wo kanesoroeteiru to tataerareteiru.
That actress is praised for possessing both beauty and talent.
彼は自分を「天才」と称しているが、実際はどうだろうか。
Kare wa jibun wo "tensai" to tonaeteiru ga, jissai wa dō darō ka.
He calls himself a "genius," but what's the reality?
この地域は「北の京都」との呼称で親しまれている。
Kono chiiki wa "kita no Kyōto" to no koshō de shitashimareteiru.
This area is affectionately known by the appellation "Kyoto of the North."
お客様に対しては必ず敬称を付けて話してください。
Okyakusama ni taishite wa kanarazu keishō wo tsukete hanashite kudasai.
Please always use an honorific title when speaking to customers.
商品の正式な名称は何ですか？
Shōhin no seishiki na meishō wa nan desu ka?
What is the official name of the product?
その映画は批評家から高い評価と称賛を受けた。
Sono eiga wa hihyōka kara takai hyōka to shōsan wo uketa.
That movie received high ratings and praise from critics.
彼女は動物に特別な愛称を付けて呼んでいる。
Kanojo wa dōbutsu ni tokubetsu na aishō wo tsukete yondeiru.
She calls her pets by special nicknames.
努力を称えることは、人を成長させるために重要です。
Doryoku wo tataeru koto wa, hito wo seichō saseru tame ni jūyō desu.
Praising effort is important for people's growth.
Memory Tip
To remember 称, visualize its components: 禾 (grain) on the left and 尔 (you/that) on the right. Imagine a farmer looking at a bountiful harvest of grain (禾) and then turning to "you" (尔), full of admiration, to "praise" your hard work and the excellent crop. Alternatively, picture a situation where a farmer is "naming" or "calling" out the types of grain they have harvested, classifying them for storage. The concepts of 'weighing' or 'balancing' (related to grain and measurement) also connect here. Think of them as judging someone's merits before praising them or assigning them a suitable name. Ultimately, 禾 represents value or merit, and 尔 signifies the person or thing being evaluated, named, or praised.