姓

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 姓 is read as せい and is a noun for a surname or family name, distinguished from a given name.
• Basic usage: It appears in instructions about name order on a form and in descriptions of continuing to use a previous surname professionally after marriage.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Order with a given name
  • 名の前に姓を書く instructs the writer to put the family name before the given name. Example: 申込書には名の前に姓を書いてください。
• Continuing a previous surname
  • 以前の姓を仕事で使う means continuing to use a prior surname professionally after marriage. Example: 結婚後も以前の姓を仕事で使っている。