How to say "fame" in Japanese

• 名声めいせいCommon
  nounThe closest match for fame as widespread public renown: being famous and talked about. Typical contexts include winning fame through achievement or being a person of great fame.
  その噂うわさで彼かれの名声めいせいが傷きずついた。↗

  The gossip hurt his reputation.
• 英名えいめいCommon
  nounFrames fame as a glorious name: the renown and glory belonging to an outstanding person. Use it when thinking of fame as an illustrious name rather than simply being well known.
• 名誉めいよJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveReally means honor, credit, and glory rather than fame itself: the esteem one has earned. Choose it when the point is being honored or given credit, not being widely known.
  招待しょうたいされた事ことは大変たいへんな名誉めいよです。↗

  It is a great honor to be invited.
• 聞こえきこえCommon
  nounViews reputation from the hearer's side: how a person sounds to others and what is heard about them. It covers renown and repute, and can also mean mere hearsay.

Use 名声 for fame as widespread public renown, 英名 when you mean the glorious name of an outstanding person, 名誉 for honor or credit rather than fame itself, and 「聞こえ」 for how someone's reputation sounds to others, including hearsay.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 名声めいせいfame
• 英名えいめいfame
• 名誉めいよhonor
• 栄達えいたつfame
• 勇名ゆうめいfame (for one's bravery)
• 威名いめいfame
• 才名さいめいfame
• 声望せいぼうfame
• 雷名らいめいfame
• 名代なだいwell-known
• 声価せいかreputation
• 令聞れいぶんgood reputation
• 令名れいめいgood reputation
• 声誉せいよreputation
• 栄名えいめいglory
• 功名こうみょうgreat achievement
• 音おとfame
• 名なfame
• 評判ひょうばんfame
• 聞こえきこえreputation
• 称しょうfame
• 名号みょうごうfame
• 馨香けいこうhonor