How to say "inscription" in Japanese

• 碑文ひぶんCommon
  no-adjectiveAn inscription carved into stone, typically on a stone monument or gravestone; it also serves for epitaphs. The natural choice whenever the English 'inscription' refers to writing literally cut into stone.
• 銘文めいぶんCommon
  nounA general term for words engraved on an object, such as a bell, sword blade, or bronze vessel. Broader than 碑文, since the surface need not be a stone monument.
• 賛さんCommon
  nounAn inscription written on a painting, typically a short poem or comment added to the picture itself. It fits only this art context; for inscriptions on monuments or objects it is not the word you want.

Use 碑文 for writing carved on stone monuments or gravestones, 銘文 for inscriptions engraved on objects in general, and 賛 only for an inscription written on a painting.

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

• 碑文ひぶんinscription
• 銘文めいぶんinscription
• 銘めいinscription
• 内接ないせつinscription
• 碑銘ひめいinscription
• ため書きためがきdedication (e.g. in books)
• 撰文せんぶんwriting (an epitaph, foreword, etc.)
• 賛さんinscription (on a painting)