マシュー
Your name
Matthew
in Japanese
The default way to write Matthew in Japanese is マシュー — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Matthew actually means at the root — Gift of God (from Hebrew Mattityahu — 'Yahweh's gift'). Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Matthew is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Matthew" means: Gift of God (from Hebrew Mattityahu — 'Yahweh's gift'). Conveys a divine blessing, a treasured present from the heavens.
神授
Shinju
神 (god/divine) + 授 (to bestow, grant) — literally 'bestowed by God,' a direct rendering of the name's Hebrew root.
天恵
Tenkei
天 (heaven) + 恵 (blessing, grace) — 'a blessing from heaven,' echoing the idea of a divine gift.
神宝
Kamitakara
神 (god) + 宝 (treasure) — 'treasure of the gods,' framing the bearer as a precious gift entrusted to the world.
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
真秀
Mashuu
真 (ma — true, genuine) + 秀 (shuu — excellent, outstanding) — 'truly excellent,' a cool and noble combination phonetically matching マシュー.
麻朱
Mashu
麻 (ma — hemp, suggesting natural softness and gentle texture) + 朱 (shu — vermilion red, a warm cute hue) — a soft, charming pairing with a cute vintage feel.
魔珠
Mashu
魔 (ma — magic, mystical) + 珠 (shu — pearl, jewel) — 'mystic pearl,' a fantastical, mystical name evoking an enchanted gem.
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
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