めいめい・銘々・銘銘meimei[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. adverb, no-adjectiveeach; individual
   生徒せいとはめいめい自分じぶんの机つくえを持もっている。↗

   Each student has his own desk.

• SynonymそれぞれNeutralThe everyday default for 'each'. Unlike 「めいめい」, it works for both people and things, as in 「それぞれの意見」, and is by far the most common of this group.
• Synonym個々ここWrittenA written-flavoured word for 'individually, one by one', as in 「個々の事例」. More at home in formal prose than 「めいめい」.
• Synonym各自かくじNeutralLeans formal and is common in notices and instructions, as in 「各自で用意する」 or 「各自の意見」 — a more official tone than 「めいめい」.
• Synonym各々おのおのNeutralLeans written, as in 「各々の考え」. In period dramas it also serves as a form of address to a group, a use 「めいめい」 does not have.
• Related各かくNeutralA prefix meaning 'each', as in 「各部署」「各国」. It only attaches to nouns and cannot stand in for 「めいめい」 on its own.
• Related各個かっこWrittenWritten language, mostly in set phrases like 「各個撃破」. You will rarely need it in speech, and it cannot freely replace 「めいめい」.
• RelatedてんでにCasualColloquial: each person doing things separately, their own way, as in 「てんでに勝手なことを言う」. It carries a sense of scattered, uncoordinated behaviour.
• Antonym一同いちどうNeutralAntonym: it means everyone present or all concerned, the group as a whole — the opposite pole to 「めいめい」's each-person view.

For 'each' in everyday speech, 「それぞれ」 is the safe default; 「めいめい」 fits people only, as in 「めいめいが弁当を持参する」. Use 「各自」 in notices, 「てんでに」 for each doing as they please, and 「一同」 for the group as a whole.

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

1. それぞれの人ひと。