姓氏

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 姓氏, read せいし, pairs surname 姓 with clan name 氏 to refer collectively to family names.
• Basic usage: It refers to surnames in a collective or historical treatment, as in 村ごとの姓氏.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Tone and register
  • It is a formal term suited to documents or research, unlike everyday 姓 or 名字 for one's surname.