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芳名 (fāng míng) — polite term for a young woman's name; good reputation, fame (formal, figurative); your name (formal, used when addressing a woman politely)

Definition

Honorific term used when politely asking or referring to a woman's name — literary, not used in daily speech. The literal meaning of 芳 ('fragrant') adds a flattering, respectful tone.

noun
polite term for a young woman's namegood reputationfame (formal, figurative)your name (formal, used when addressing a woman politely)

Examples

  • 芳名？
    Qǐng wèn zhè wèi nǚ shì de fāng míng zěn me chēng hu?
    May I ask how to address this lady's (fragrant) name?
  • 芳名。
    Tā yīn cí shàn shì yè ér chuán sòng fāng míng.
    She is widely praised for her good reputation through charitable work.
  • 芳名，。
    Jiǔ yǎng fāng míng, jīn rì yí jiàn guǒ rán qì dù bù fán.
    I have long admired your name; now meeting you, I see you are truly distinguished.

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.

芳fāngfragrant
名míngname

芳 means fragrant or fine, and 名 means name, so 芳名 is a fine 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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng芳fāng
Same sound today

芳 pairs 艸 (grass) with 方 (fāng); the 方 part gives the sound.

Open 芳 →

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
Greetings & Politeness

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