ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

name

míng
6 strokes · 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth) · HSK 1

Where 名 comes from

名 = 夕 (evening / dusk) + 口 (mouth). In the dark of evening you can't see who's coming, so you call out with your MOUTH to say your NAME. A beautiful little story of how naming began — identity announced in the dark.

名 in Chinese culture

名字 means 'name' (名 given name + 字 a courtesy character). 名 also means 'fame' or 'famous': 有名 means 'well-known' (literally 'to have a name'). A 名人 is a celebrity. In China, your 名 traditionally came after your family name, never before.

Example

名字 míngzi — name

你叫什么名字?
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What's your name?

How to remember it

In the evening (夕) you call out with your mouth (口) to give your NAME.

有名 ('to have a name') means famous. In Chinese culture, your name was your reputation — to 'have a name' was to be known and respected.

Same sound, different tones

Words unlocked by 名

名字 míngzi
name
有名 yǒumíng
famous
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