名符其实 (míng fú qí shí) — the name matches the reality; to be worthy of the name; living up to one's reputation

Definition

A fixed chengyu meaning a name or reputation is truly deserved — 'lives up to the name.' Used as a predicate or with 的 to modify a noun (e.g., 名符其实的专家).

verb
the name matches the realityto be worthy of the nameliving up to one's reputation

Examples

  • 名符其实。
    Tā shì yí wèi míng fú qí shí de zhuān jiā.
    He is an expert worthy of the name.
  • ，名符其实。
    Zhè jiā fàn diàn de cài wèi dào hěn hǎo, zhēn shì míng fú qí shí.
    The food at this restaurant tastes great — it really lives up to its name.
  • ，名符其实。
    Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng hé xuān chuán de yí yàng měi, míng fú qí shí.
    The scenery here is as beautiful as advertised — it truly lives up to its name.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
付
付fù符fú
Same sound today

符 puts the bamboo form 竹, written 𥫗 on top, above 付, which gives the sound.

Open 符 →

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

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

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