Japanese

すうめい
Meaning: several people; a few people
Part of Speech: Noun

Listen to pronunciation

Handwriting

数
名

Example sentences

Several directors attended the meeting.
昨夜の嵐で、数名の漁師が行方不明になっている。
Several fishermen are missing due to last night's storm.

Usage Notes

Refers to a small number of people, typically around 2-3 to 5-6. It is slightly more formal than saying 'a few people' in English. Unlike '若干名' (jakkan-mei), it usually implies at least two people.

Sottaku

About Sottaku

Sottaku is an app for learning Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian with a strong focus on SRS. It includes automatic flashcard creation for hundreds of thousands of words, grammar breakdowns in example sentences, language-specific study packs where available, adaptive quizzes, mobile apps, a browser extension, and community features. Give it a try now! All learning content is free with no limits on flashcards or study time.

Sottaku is built to match the habits of successful learners. By using Sottaku, you will naturally learn in the most efficient way possible, as proven by countless success stories in the language learning community.

Free Forever

Access all grammar guides, quizzes, and flashcards without paying a cent. Quality education should be accessible to everyone.

Smart SRS System

Our flashcard system uses the FSRS algorithm (also used in Anki) to optimize your review schedule and maximize retention.

Comprehensive Content

From hanzi, kana, hangul, and European vocabulary basics to grammar and reading practice where available, we have lessons for every level. Practice with quizzes tailored to your skill.

Community Chat

Ask level-appropriate questions and get help from the community. Learn together with fellow learners across all 8 supported languages.