名分 (míng fèn) — rightful status or role (e.g., in family, society, or work); legitimate title or proper standing

Definition

名分 refers to a person's legitimate status or title — especially the social/family role that others formally acknowledge. Often appears with 有/无名无分/明确的名分, contrasting one's actual standing with one's recognized one.

noun
rightful status or role (e.g., in family, society, or work)legitimate title or proper standing

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā yì zhí wú míng wú fēn dì gēn zhe tā, xīn lǐ hěn bù ān.
    She followed him without any rightful status, and felt very uneasy inside.
  • ，名分。
    Zài zhè ge jiā zú lǐ, měi gè chéng yuán dōu yǒu míng què de míng fèn.
    In this clan, every member has a clearly defined rightful role.
  • 名分。
    Tā děng dào wǔ shí suì cái zài gōng sī lǐ dé dào zhèng shì de míng fèn.
    He didn't get a proper official title at the company until he was fifty.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

名míngtitle
分fēnposition

名 (title) and 分 (position) combine to mean one's rightful standing.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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