TongTong
Sign in

正名 (zhèng míng) — (noun) rectification of names/terms (Confucian concept); (noun) proper name; rightful status or title

Definition

A classical Confucian idea: every role and concept must match its proper name so that order follows. Also used in modern Chinese for officially clarifying a legal title or rightful status.

noun
rectification of names/terms (Confucian concept)proper namerightful status or title

Examples

  • 正名，。
    Rú jiā qiáng diào zhèng míng, rèn wéi míng bú zhèng zé yán bú shùn.
    Confucianism emphasizes the rectification of names, holding that if names are not correct, speech will not be in order.
  • ，正名。
    Tā men yāo qiú gōng sī wèi tā huī fù míng yù, jǐ yǔ zhèng míng.
    They demanded the company restore his reputation and give him proper recognition.
  • 正名，。
    Zhè jiàn shì guān xì dào fǎ lǜ shàng de zhèng míng wèn tí, bù néng mǎ hu.
    This matter involves the issue of proper legal definition and cannot be taken lightly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

正zhèngrectify
名míngname

正 means to set right, and 名 means name; together they mean making names right or a proper title.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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
Chinese Culture & Customs

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.