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March 24, 2026
名míng(ming2)
The character 名 (míng) primarily means 'name' and is often used to refer to a person's name or title. It can also denote fame or reputation, as in being well-known. In various contexts, it serves as a classifier for people, indicating rank or position, especially in formal scenarios such as awards or competitions.
Strokes6Radical口Frequency#362DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, names often carry significant meaning and are chosen carefully to convey positive traits or aspirations. The importance of a person's name reflects the value placed on identity and reputation in social and professional contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'mingling' crowd where everyone is calling out their names. The character 名 resembles a person holding a name tag, emphasizing the idea of identity and recognition. Picture the sound 'míng' as a bell ringing to announce someone's name, making it memorable.
Meanings of 名
míng(ming2)
1name
2noun (part of speech)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 名
名Simplified
6Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#362Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 名
Podcast: 名
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AI Study Notes for 名
Quick Contrast
姓名 (xìngmíng) vs 名字 (míngzì) — use 姓名 for formal contexts or official documents, while 名字 is more casual.
Usage Notes
When using 名, be mindful of its formal connotations; it often appears in contexts like names of famous people or titles. Common phrases include '姓名' (xìngmíng) for 'full name' and '名声' (míngshēng) for 'fame.' Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may have different tones or meanings.
HSK Study Tips
名 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, but it's essential for learners at all levels due to its frequent use in names and formal contexts. Students should focus on pronunciation and practice recognizing it in compound words related to identity and reputation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 名 with similar characters like 名字 (míngzì), which means 'name' but is more specific. A common mistake is to say '我叫名' (wǒ jiào míng) instead of '我叫...' (wǒ jiào ...), which is the correct way to introduce oneself by name.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 名
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Traditionally explained as identifying youself at night (夕) by saying (口) your name (名) because is too dark for others to see you.
1The giveawayA name called out 口 to hail someone at night 夕
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 名? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 名?
Decomposition of 名
IDS Structure⿸夕口
名Full Character
=
夕xi1
enclosing
口kou3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 名?
How to say name in Chinese
“name” in Chinese is名míng
The character 名 (míng) primarily means 'name' and is often used to refer to a person's name or title. It can also denote fame or reputation, as in being well-known. In various contexts, it serves as a classifier for people, indicating rank or position, especially in formal scenarios such as awards or competitions.
When to use 名
When using 名, be mindful of its formal connotations; it often appears in contexts like names of famous people or titles. Common phrases include '姓名' (xìngmíng) for 'full name' and '名声' (míngshēng) for 'fame.' Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may have different tones or meanings.
名 or something close to it
姓名 (xìngmíng) vs 名字 (míngzì) — use 姓名 for formal contexts or official documents, while 名字 is more casual.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 名 with similar characters like 名字 (míngzì), which means 'name' but is more specific. A common mistake is to say '我叫名' (wǒ jiào míng) instead of '我叫...' (wǒ jiào ...), which is the correct way to introduce oneself by name.
Write 名
名
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Practice writing 名 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 名
名 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
