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真名 (zhēn míng) — real name

Definition

Refers to one's actual, legal or given name — as opposed to a pseudonym, nickname, username, or alias. Often used in formal contexts like registrations or introductions.

noun
real name

Examples

  • 真名。
    Tā de zhēn míng jiào wáng xiǎo míng.
    His real name is Wang Xiaoming.
  • 真名。
    Wǒ bù xiǎng ràng bié rén zhī dào wǒ de zhēn míng.
    I don't want others to know my real name.
  • 真名。
    Qǐng nǐ zài bào míng biǎo shàng xiě xià nǐ de zhēn míng.
    Please write down your real name on the registration form.

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.

真zhēnreal
名míngname

The quality 真 and the thing 名 combine to mean a real name.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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 →
Appears in
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