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美名 (měi míng) — good name, reputation

Definition

美名 means a good name or fine reputation, often earned through actions (e.g. 留下了美名, 为...赢得美名). It is a set phrase, not a free combination of 美 + 名.

noun
good namereputation

Examples

  • 美名。
    Tā yì shēng dōu zài zhuī qiú měi míng.
    He spent his whole life pursuing a good reputation.
  • 美名。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā liú xià le měi míng.
    This scientist left behind a good name.
  • 美名。
    Bú yào wèi le měi míng ér zuò huài shì.
    Don't do bad things for the sake of a good reputation.

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.

美měigood
名míngname

“美” means good or beautiful and “名” means name; a good name is a reputation.

Characters in this word

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

美 shows 大, a person, wearing 羊, a headdress of feathers or ram's horn.

Open 美 →

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
Abstract Concepts

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