míng: 名 - Name, Reputation, Famous, Rank

• Keywords: ming, 名, what is ming in Chinese, Chinese word for name, meaning of ming, famous in Chinese, reputation in Chinese, Chinese measure word for rank, mingzi, youming, minge, mingci
• Summary: The Chinese character 名 (míng) is a cornerstone of the language, fundamentally meaning “name.” However, its significance goes far deeper, encompassing concepts like “fame,” “reputation,” and “rank.” Understanding 名 (míng) is key to grasping not just how to ask for someone's name in Chinese, but also how Chinese culture views identity, social status, and honor. This page explores its simple origins, its profound cultural weight, and its practical use in everything from daily conversation to competitive rankings.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): míng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective, Measure Word
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A name; reputation; fame; famous; a person's rank or place (as a measure word).
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 名 (míng) is about how you are known. It starts with your personal 名字 (míngzi), or “name.” But this extends to how you're known by society. If many people know you, you are 有名 (yǒumíng), or “famous.” If you are known for being good and honorable, you have a good 名声 (míngshēng), or “reputation.” Finally, it's used to count people's positions in a competition, like 第一名 (dì yī míng), “first place.” It's all about identity and social standing.

• The character 名 (míng) is a beautiful example of how Chinese characters tell a story. It's a compound of two parts:
• 夕 (xī): This top part means “dusk” or “evening.”
• 口 (kǒu): This bottom part means “mouth.”
• In ancient China, when it became dark at dusk (夕), you couldn't see a person's face clearly. To identify them, you had to call out (口) their name. Thus, 夕 + 口 combines to form 名, the “name” you call out in the dark.

In Chinese culture, a 名 (míng) is far more than a simple label. It's a vessel for identity, destiny, and honor that is deeply connected to family and society.

• The Weight of a Name: Unlike in many Western cultures where names might be chosen for their sound or popularity, Chinese names (名字, míngzi) are often selected with immense care. Parents choose characters that embody virtues, hopes, or strengths they wish for their child, such as strength (强, qiáng), beauty (丽, lì), or wisdom (慧, huì). The name is a lifelong aspiration.
• Reputation (名声) and Face (面子): The concept of 名 is intrinsically linked to 名声 (míngshēng), or reputation. This isn't just an individual's concern; it reflects on the entire family. Having a good 名声 brings honor, while a bad one brings shame to the collective. This ties directly into the concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face,” which is one's social prestige and standing in the community. To “lose face” is to damage your reputation (名).
• Cultural Comparison: In the West, the phrase “to make a name for oneself” typically implies individualistic achievement and personal branding. While China has a similar idea, it's often framed with a more collectivist lens: achieving fame or a good reputation brings honor to one's parents, family, and even hometown. The individual's 名 (míng) is a reflection of a larger group.

名 (míng) is incredibly versatile and appears in many common words and situations.

This is its most basic function, almost always appearing in the compound word 名字 (míngzi) in spoken language.

• e.g., Asking for a name: 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)

It acts as the root for words related to fame and renown.

• e.g., 有名 (yǒumíng) means “famous.” A 名人 (míngrén) is a “famous person” or celebrity. 著名 (zhùmíng) is a more formal word for “renowned.”

This is a crucial and frequent use that often confuses beginners. 名 (míng) is the standard measure word for counting the rank or position of people in a list or competition.

• e.g., He is the first place student: 他是第一名的学生。(Tā shì dì yī míng de xuéshēng.)
• e.g., How many students are in your class? 你们班有多少名学生？ (Nǐmen bān yǒu duōshǎo míng xuéshēng?) - Note: This is more formal than using the general measure word 个 (gè).

• Example 1:
  • 你叫什么名字？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
  • English: What is your name?
  • Analysis: This is one of the first phrases any learner will encounter. 名 is part of the essential word 名字 (míngzi), “name.”
• Example 2:
  • 这次考试，他得了第一名。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì kǎoshì, tā dé le dì yī míng.
  • English: He got first place in this exam.
  • Analysis: This showcases the crucial use of 名 as a measure word for rank. You cannot use the common measure word 个 (gè) here.
• Example 3:
  • 姚明是一位非常有名的篮球运动员。
  • Pinyin: Yáo Míng shì yī wèi fēicháng yǒumíng de lánqiú yùndòngyuán.
  • English: Yao Ming is a very famous basketball player.
  • Analysis: 有名 (yǒumíng) literally means “has name,” and is the standard way to say “famous.”
• Example 4:
  • 请在这里签上您的名字。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ qiān shàng nín de míngzi.
  • English: Please sign your name here.
  • Analysis: A practical and polite sentence you might hear at a bank or hotel. 签名 (qiānmíng) means “to sign one's name.”
• Example 5:
  • 保护公司的名声非常重要。
  • Pinyin: Bǎohù gōngsī de míngshēng fēicháng zhòngyào.
  • English: Protecting the company's reputation is very important.
  • Analysis: This introduces the compound 名声 (míngshēng), which directly translates to “reputation” and carries significant cultural weight.
• Example 6:
  • 他只喜欢买名牌的鞋子。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐ xǐhuān mǎi míngpái de xiézi.
  • English: He only likes to buy famous-brand shoes.
  • Analysis: 名牌 (míngpái) means “famous brand” or “designer label.” This is a very common term in modern consumer culture.
• Example 7:
  • 这家餐厅的招牌菜是北京烤鸭。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de zhāopái cài shì Běijīng kǎoyā.
  • English: This restaurant's signature dish is Peking Duck.
  • Analysis: While not using 名 directly, it's related. 招牌 (zhāopái) means a shop sign. A 招牌菜 is a “signboard dish” - the famous dish the restaurant is known for, linking fame (名) to its identity.
• Example 8:
  • 这个项目有三个名额。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù yǒu sān ge míng'é.
  • English: This project has a quota of three people (lit: three spots/slots).
  • Analysis: 名额 (míng'é) is a useful word meaning “quota of people” or “number of available spots,” often for a job, university, or program.
• Example 9:
  • 他因为害怕报复而选择匿名。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi hàipà bàofù ér xuǎnzé nìmíng.
  • English: He chose to remain anonymous because he feared retaliation.
  • Analysis: 匿名 (nìmíng) means “anonymous” (lit: “to hide one's name”). This shows how 名 can be used in prefixes to form new concepts.
• Example 10:
  • 他突然不说话了，真是莫名其妙。
  • Pinyin: Tā tūrán bù shuōhuà le, zhēn shì mò míng qí miào.
  • English: He suddenly stopped talking, it's really baffling/inexplicable.
  • Analysis: This is a common idiom (chengyu). 莫名其妙 (mò míng qí miào) literally means “unable to name its wonder/mystery.” It's used to describe something that is bizarre, confusing, or makes no sense.

• 名 (míng) vs. 名字 (míngzi): This is the most common pitfall. When asking “What's your name?” or saying “My name is…”, always use the two-character word 名字 (míngzi). While saying “我名叫李伟 (Wǒ míng jiào Lǐ Wěi)” is grammatically correct, it sounds very formal or literary. For everyday conversation, stick to 我叫李伟 (Wǒ jiào Lǐ Wěi) or 我的名字是李伟 (Wǒ de míngzi shì Lǐ Wěi).
  • Correct: 我的名字是… (Wǒ de míngzi shì…)
  • Unnatural (but not wrong): 我的名是… (Wǒ de míng shì…)
• Misusing the Measure Word: Do not confuse 名 (míng) with 个 (gè). 个 (gè) is for counting general objects or people. 名 (míng) is for counting people in a formal context or, most importantly, for indicating rank.
  • Incorrect: 他是第一个。(Tā shì dì yī gè.) → This means “He is the first one (in a line).”
  • Correct: 他是第一名。(Tā shì dì yī míng.) → This means “He is first place (in a competition).”
• Don't Confuse with English “Name”: While 名 (míng) means “name,” remember its strong connection to “fame.” Seeing it in a word like 名胜古迹 (míngshèng gǔjì), which means “famous scenic spots and historic sites,” should be understood as “famous” places, not “named” places.

• `名字 (míngzi)` - The most common and essential word for “name” in modern Chinese.
• `姓 (xìng)` - Surname, family name. It's important to distinguish this from 名 (míng), which is the given name. A full Chinese name is 姓名 (xìngmíng).
• `有名 (yǒumíng)` - The standard adjective for “famous.”
• `著名 (zhùmíng)` - A more formal or literary word for “famous, renowned.”
• `名声 (míngshēng)` - Reputation; social standing. Can be good (好名声) or bad (坏名声).
• `名片 (míngpiàn)` - Business card (literally “name card”).
• `签名 (qiānmíng)` - To sign one's name; a signature.
• `第一名 (dì yī míng)` - First place/rank. A perfect example of its use as a measure word for rank.
• `面子 (miànzi)` - “Face,” social prestige. A concept deeply intertwined with one's 名声 (míngshēng).
• `绰号 (chuòhào)` - Nickname. Distinct from a formal name.