戒名

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 戒名 is read as かいみょう and is a noun for a posthumous Buddhist name given to the deceased in a religious context.
• Basic usage: Use 墓石に戒名が刻まれる for the carved name and 僧侶から戒名の意味を聞く for its explanation.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Posthumous and lifetime names
  • It is a Buddhist posthumous name used on a gravestone, distinct from the ordinary or legal name used during life.
• Different contexts of use
  • A person’s lifetime name and 戒名 can coexist in different contexts; the latter does not replace the ordinary name for everyday address or legal identification.