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一举成名 (yī jǔ chéng míng) — to become famous overnight; to achieve instant fame

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to become famous overnight' from one decisive action or work. Implies sudden, widespread recognition rather than slow, built-up success.

verb
to become famous overnightto achieve instant fame

Examples

  • 一举成名，。
    Tā yīn wèi yì shǒu gē yī jǔ chéng míng, xiàn zài quán guó dōu rèn shi tā.
    He became famous overnight because of a song, and now the whole country knows him.
  • 一举成名。
    Hěn duō yǎn yuán dōu xī wàng kào yí bù diàn yǐng yī jǔ chéng míng.
    Many actors hope to become famous overnight with one movie.
  • 一举成名。
    Tā xiě de dì yī běn xiǎo shuō ràng tā yī jǔ chéng míng.
    Her first novel made her famous overnight.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
與
與yǔ舉jǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

Open 举 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

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
Idioms & Set PhrasesSuccess & Failure

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