口碑 (kǒu bēi) — public reputation; word-of-mouth (good or bad) appraisal

Definition

Literally 'mouth-tablet' — refers to a business, product, or person's reputation built up through what people say to each other. Often implies a favorable public opinion that has spread organically.

noun
public reputationword-of-mouth (good or bad) appraisal

Examples

  • 口碑
    Zhè jiā cān tīng de kǒu bēi hěn hǎo, měi tiān dōu yǒu hěn duō rén lái.
    This restaurant has a great reputation; many people come every day.
  • 口碑
    Zhè kuǎn shǒu jī de kǒu bēi fēi cháng hǎo, yòng hù píng jià hěn gāo.
    This phone has an excellent reputation; user reviews are very high.
  • 口碑
    Hǎo de kǒu bēi xū yào jīng guò cháng qī de jī lěi hé yōu zhì de fú wù.
    A good reputation requires long-term accumulation and high-quality service.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

kǒumouth
bēitablet

口 (mouths) and 碑 (stone tablets) combine to suggest a reputation recorded in people's speech.

Characters in this word

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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
shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
bēibēi
Same sound today

碑 shows 石 (stone) beside 卑, with 卑 giving the sound.

Open 碑 →

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