无名之辈 (wú míng zhī bèi) — nobody, an unknown person

Definition

Literary phrase for 'a person of no fame or status' — a nobody, often used with empathy or quiet respect (e.g. ‘mòmò gǎibiàn shìjiè’). More literary and weighty than the plain 小人物.

noun
nobodyan unknown person

Examples

  • 无名之辈，。
    Tā yuán běn zhǐ shì yí gè wú míng zhī bèi, hòu lái chéng le dà míng xīng.
    He was originally just a nobody, later he became a big star.
  • 无名之辈，。
    Bié xiǎo kàn zhè xiē wú míng zhī bèi, tā men kě néng yǒu zhe liǎo bù qǐ de cái huá.
    Don't underestimate these nobodies; they may have remarkable talents.
  • ，无名之辈。
    Zài lì shǐ zhōng, xǔ duō wú míng zhī bèi mò mò gǎi biàn le shì jiè.
    In history, many nameless people quietly changed the world.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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 輩; 辈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi輩bèi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輩 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 非, which gives the sound; this describes 輩, not the simplified 辈.

Open 辈 →

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