英名 (yīng míng) — illustrious name, fame, glory

Definition

A formal, literary word for a person's glorious or illustrious name, often left as a lasting legacy. Used in writing about heroes, generals, or national figures — not for everyday introductions.

noun
illustrious namefameglory
Easily confused

Examples

  • 英名。
    Tā de yīng míng jiàng yǒng yuǎn liú zài rén men xīn zhōng.
    His illustrious name will forever remain in people's hearts.
  • 英名。
    Zhè wèi jiāng jūn yǐ yīng míng zǎi rù shǐ cè.
    This general was recorded in history with glory.
  • 英名。
    Tā wèi guó jiā yíng dé le bù xiǔ de yīng míng.
    He won immortal fame for the country.

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.

英yīngillustrious
名míngname

An 名 that is 英, an illustrious name or fame.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
央
央yāng英yīng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

英 pairs 艹 (grass) with 央, which gives the sound.

Open 英 →

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 →

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