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名气 (míng qi) — reputation, fame

Definition

Everyday word for 'reputation/fame,' usually about how well-known someone or something is. 名声 and 名誉 are more formal and stress moral standing, not just popularity.

noun
reputationfame

Examples

  • 名气。
    Zhè wèi yǎn yuán de míng qi hěn dà.
    This actor has a great reputation.
  • 名气。
    Nà jiā gōng sī de míng qi bú tài hǎo.
    That company's reputation is not very good.
  • 。
    Tā zài dà xué lǐ hěn yǒu míng qi.
    He has a good reputation at the university.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

名míngreputation
气qìquality

名 reputation plus 气 gives the sense of fame.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.