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出名 (chū míng) — famous, well-known

Definition

出名 (chū míng) is a colloquial adjective meaning 'famous / well-known.' It is more everyday than 著名 (written/celebrated); 有名 is close in level but 出名 often describes someone or something that has gained notice, not just anyone already known.

adjective
famouswell-known

Examples

  • 出名。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn chū míng de yǎn yuán.
    He is a very famous actor.
  • 出名。
    Zhè jiā diàn de dōng xī hěn chū míng.
    The things in this shop are very famous.
  • 出名。
    Tā de huà zài quán guó dōu hěn chū míng.
    Her paintings are famous nationwide.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

出chūemerge
名míngreputation

出 means emerge, and 名 is reputation, so it pictures a reputation emerging.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

名 puts 夕 (crescent moon) above 口 (mouth), showing a name spoken in the dark.

Open 名 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Good & Bad5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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