冒名 (mào míng) — to assume another's name or identity, to impersonate

Definition

A formal verb meaning to assume someone else's name or identity, typically to commit fraud. Almost always used in fixed phrases like 冒名顶替 (to impersonate / take someone's place).

verb
to assume another's name or identity, to impersonate

Examples

  • 冒名，。
    Tā mào míng jìn rù kǎo chǎng, bèi lǎo shī fā xiàn le.
    He entered the exam hall under a false name and was caught by the teacher.
  • ，。
    Tā mào le bié rén de míng qù lǐng jiǎng, zuì hòu bèi zhuā le.
    He claimed the prize under someone else's name and was eventually caught.
  • 。
    mào míng Dǐng tì shì yì zhǒng wéi fǎ xíng wéi.
    Impersonation is a kind of illegal act.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

冒màoassume
名míngname

冒 means to assume or pass off, and 名 name, pointing to taking another's name.

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
目目mùeyes
Sound part声符shēngfú
冃
冃mào冒mào
Same sound today

冒 was built from 冃, a hat used for the sound, plus 目, eyes, as the meaning part.

Open 冒 →

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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