响当当 (xiǎng dāng dāng) — (figurative) renowned, outstanding, formidable

Definition

A vivid 3-syllable adjective (bound form, used before 的) meaning "renowned, formidable." Often praises someone solidly successful or impressive — stronger and more colloquial than a plain "famous."

bound form
(figurative) renownedoutstandingformidable

Examples

  • 响当当。
    Tā zài yīn yuè jiè shì gè xiǎng dāng dāng de rén wù.
    He is a renowned figure in the music industry.
  • 响当当。
    Zhè ge pǐn pái de míng zì zài quán shì jiè dōu xiǎng dāng dāng.
    The name of this brand is famous all over the world.
  • 响当当。
    Tā píng shí lì yíng dé le xiǎng dāng dāng de míng shēng.
    She earned a formidable reputation through her ability.

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.

响xiǎngring
当当clanging
当dāng当dāng
重叠Reduplication

响 is a ringing sound, and 当当 gives a vivid clanging quality, so it is loud or outstanding.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 響; 响 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
音音yīnsound
Sound part声符shēngfú
鄉
鄉xiāng響xiǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 響 pairs 音, meaning sound, with 鄉 to give its pronunciation. The simplified 响 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the historical parts.

Open 响 →

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 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng當dāng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Open 当 →

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 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng當dāng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Open 当 →

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