Save Type Surname Usage Japanese Scripts 坪井, 壺井, 壷井(Japanese Kanji) Pronounced Pron. /t͡sɨᵝ.bo̞.i/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History From Japanese 坪 (tsubo) referring to a traditional unit of length or 壺 or 壷 (tsubo) meaning "container, pot, jar" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine".