久负盛名 (jiǔ fù shèng míng) — to have long enjoyed a good reputation; to be long-established and prestigious

Definition

Set phrase meaning 'to have enjoyed a fine reputation for a long time' — emphasizes a well-established prestige built over years. Modifies the noun or comes before 的 + noun (e.g. 久负盛名的大学).

idiom
to have long enjoyed a good reputationto be long-established and prestigious

Examples

  • 久负盛名，。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng jiǔ fù shèng míng, měi tiān dōu yǒu rén pái duì.
    This restaurant has long enjoyed a good reputation — people line up every day.
  • ，久负盛名。
    Tā suī rán nián qīng, dàn yǐ jīng shì jiǔ fù shèng míng de yì shù jiā le.
    Though young, he is already an artist who has long enjoyed a fine reputation.
  • 久负盛名，。
    Zhè zuò dà xué jiǔ fù shèng míng, xī yǐn le lái zì shì jiè gè dì de xué shēng.
    This university has long been prestigious, attracting students from all over the world.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

久负long bear
久jiǔlong负fùbear
偏正Modifier + head
盛名great reputation
盛shènggreat名míngreputation
偏正Modifier + head

久 means long, 负 means bear, 盛名 means great reputation; together it means long enjoying a good reputation.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 負; 负 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 負 combines 人 (person) and 貝 (cowry), with 人 written as ⺈; the simplified 负 is a later abbreviation.

Open 负 →

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
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng盛shèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盛 combines 成 as a sound part with 皿 as a meaning part; the 皿 side points to a vessel, which fits meanings such as hold and fill.

Open 盛 →

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 →

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