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知名 (zhī míng) — well-known, famous

Definition

Formal/literary 'well-known, famous', more written than the everyday 有名 and stronger than 出名 ('become famous'). Often used in titles and CV-style descriptions like 知名作家.

adjective
well-knownfamous

Examples

  • 知名。
    Zhè wèi zhī míng de zuò jiā xiě le hěn duō shū.
    This well-known writer has written many books.
  • 知名。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de zhī míng chǎn pǐn hěn shòu huān yíng.
    This company's well-known products are very popular.
  • 知名，。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhī míng de dǎo yǎn, pāi guò hěn duō hǎo diàn yǐng.
    He is a well-known director who has made many good movies.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

知zhīknow
名míngname/reputation

The parts 知 and 名 combine as know and name/reputation, giving the sense that a name is widely known.

Characters in this word

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

An early form of 知 showed 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to a child to pass on knowledge. The 子 part was dropped, and the 大 part changed shape.

Open 知 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 5Good & Bad

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