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闻名 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
闻名wénmíngwell-knownHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9356, Hard
闻名wénmíngfamousHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9356, Hard
闻名wénmíngrenownedHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9356, Hard
闻名wénmíngeminentHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9356, Hard
wénmíng(wen2ming2)wen ming T2
  1. 1well-known
  2. 2famous
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March 24, 2026

闻名(聞名)wénmíng(wen2ming2)

闻名 (wénmíng) means 'well-known' or 'famous'. It is often used to describe someone or something that has gained recognition or a good reputation, usually due to notable achievements or qualities. This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing prominent figures or popular places.

Strokes15Frequency#9356DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being 闻名 can significantly impact one's social status and opportunities. For instance, famous chefs or artists often become cultural icons, influencing trends and societal tastes.

Memory tip

Think of the character 闻 (wén) as 'to hear' and 名 (míng) as 'name'. Imagine hearing the name of a famous person on the news; you recognize them immediately. The character's structure also includes the radical for 'door' (门), suggesting that their fame is something you can hear about when you open up to the world.

Meanings of 闻名

wénmíng(wen2ming2)
1well-known
2famous
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About 闻名

闻名Simplified
聞名Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 闻名

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AI study notes for 闻名

Quick Contrast

著名 (zhùmíng) - use 闻名 when emphasizing widespread recognition, while 著名 is often used for notable figures or works in a more formal context.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 闻名 with 传奇 (chuánqí), which means 'legendary' and implies a more mythical status. While 闻名 can be used in both formal and informal settings, it is more commonly found in written language. A typical collocation is '闻名于世' (wénmíng yú shì), meaning 'world-renowned'.

HSK Study Tips

While 闻名 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it is related to other words describing fame and reputation at HSK Level 4 and above, such as 有名 (yǒumíng). Students should focus on understanding its components and how it fits within discussions about recognition and reputation.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 闻名 with the similar-sounding 有名 (yǒumíng), which also means 'famous'. A common mistake is saying '闻名的人' (wénmíng de rén) instead of '有名的人' (yǒumíng de rén) when referring to a famous person.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 闻名

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Component characters

闻wénto hear
HSK 49 strokes门
View full entry
名míngname
HSK 26 strokes口
View full entry

How to say well-known in Chinese

“well-known” in Chinese is闻名wénmíng

闻名 (wénmíng) means 'well-known' or 'famous'. It is often used to describe someone or something that has gained recognition or a good reputation, usually due to notable achievements or qualities. This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing prominent figures or popular places.

When to use 闻名

Be careful not to confuse 闻名 with 传奇 (chuánqí), which means 'legendary' and implies a more mythical status. While 闻名 can be used in both formal and informal settings, it is more commonly found in written language. A typical collocation is '闻名于世' (wénmíng yú shì), meaning 'world-renowned'.

闻名 or something close to it

著名 (zhùmíng) - use 闻名 when emphasizing widespread recognition, while 著名 is often used for notable figures or works in a more formal context.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 闻名 with the similar-sounding 有名 (yǒumíng), which also means 'famous'. A common mistake is saying '闻名的人' (wénmíng de rén) instead of '有名的人' (yǒumíng de rén) when referring to a famous person.

Write 闻名

闻
名

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Frequently asked questions about 闻名

You can say '他在音乐界闻名' (Tā zài yīnyuè jiè wénmíng), which means 'He is well-known in the music industry.'

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