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有名 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
有名yǒumíngfamousHSK 3, a, 12 strokes, rank #4705, Medium
有名yǒumíngwell-knownHSK 3, a, 12 strokes, rank #4705, Medium
yǒumíng(you3ming2)you ming T3
  1. 1famous
  2. 2well-known
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March 24, 2026

有名yǒumíng(you3ming2)

The term '有名' (yǒu míng) means 'famous' or 'well-known' in Mandarin. It is used to describe a person, place, or thing that is recognized and acknowledged by a large number of people, often due to achievements or notoriety. This expression is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing celebrities, landmarks, or popular products.

Strokes12Frequency#4705DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, fame is often associated with achievements in fields such as academics, arts, and sports, reflecting societal values on success and recognition. The phrase can often be heard in discussions about historical figures or contemporary celebrities.

Memory tip

Think of '有' as representing 'having' and '名' as 'name.' Together, they form an image where someone 'has a name' that everyone knows, making them famous. Visualize a celebrity standing on a stage with their name in lights, symbolizing their fame and popularity.

Meanings of 有名

yǒumíng(you3ming2)
1famous
2well-known
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 有名

有名Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4705Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1

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AI study notes for 有名

Quick Contrast

著名 (zhùmíng) - use '有名' for general fame, while '著名' implies a more distinguished or notable fame.

Usage Notes

'有名' is typically used to describe people or things that are widely acknowledged, so it may not be appropriate in contexts where recognition is limited. Be cautious not to confuse it with '著名' (zhùmíng), which carries a more formal connotation. Common collocations include '有名的人' (famous person) and '有名的地方' (famous place).

HSK Study Tips

As a HSK Level 3 word, '有名' is essential for learners who want to express notoriety or popularity. Students should practice using it in sentences describing famous people or places, connecting it to other adjectives learned at this level.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '有名' with '出名' (chūmíng), which also means 'famous' but has a slightly different nuance. For example, saying '他是一个有名的演员' (He is a famous actor) is correct, but saying '他是一个出名的演员' can imply a more recent rise to fame, which may not be the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 有名

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Component characters

有yǒuto have
HSK 16 strokes月
View full entry
名míngname
HSK 26 strokes口
View full entry

How to say famous in Chinese

“famous” in Chinese is有名yǒumíng

The term '有名' (yǒu míng) means 'famous' or 'well-known' in Mandarin. It is used to describe a person, place, or thing that is recognized and acknowledged by a large number of people, often due to achievements or notoriety. This expression is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing celebrities, landmarks, or popular products.

When to use 有名

'有名' is typically used to describe people or things that are widely acknowledged, so it may not be appropriate in contexts where recognition is limited. Be cautious not to confuse it with '著名' (zhùmíng), which carries a more formal connotation. Common collocations include '有名的人' (famous person) and '有名的地方' (famous place).

有名 or something close to it

著名 (zhùmíng) - use '有名' for general fame, while '著名' implies a more distinguished or notable fame.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '有名' with '出名' (chūmíng), which also means 'famous' but has a slightly different nuance. For example, saying '他是一个有名的演员' (He is a famous actor) is correct, but saying '他是一个出名的演员' can imply a more recent rise to fame, which may not be the intended meaning.

Write 有名

有
名

Practice writing 有名 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 有名

有名 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

衣服的牌子越____,价钱越贵。

The more famous the clothing brand, the more expensive the price.

Example sentences for 有名 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
像《东京时报》之类的一些有名望的日报已经停刊了。

xiàng《 dōng Jīng shí bào》 zhīlèi de yìxiē yǒumíng wàng de rìbào yǐjīng tíng kān le。

Venerable dailies such as the Tokyo Times have shut down.
2
他混迹于有魅力、有学问或有名气的人当中。

tā hùn jì yú yǒu mèilì、 yǒu xuéwen huò yǒumíng qì de rén dāngzhōng。

He surrounds himself with attractive, intelligent, or well-known people.
3
英国轮胎与车辆养护公司是英国最有名的汽车养护企业,在全英国有400多家分店。

Yīng guó lúntāi yǔ chēliàng yǎng hù gōngsī shì Yīng guó zuì yǒumíng de qìchē yǎng hù qǐyè, zài quán Yīng guóyǒu400 duō jiā fēn diàn。

National is Britain's leading autocare service with over 400 branches nationwide.
4
颇有名望的女演员

Pō yǒumíng wàng de nǚ yǎnyuán

an actress of considerable stature
5
临街的东胡同是杜家有名的 “ 义和大院 ”.

línjiē de dōng hútòng shì dù jiā yǒumíng de “ yì hé dà yuàn ”.

Hutong street East are Dujiatai famous " justice and the compound. "
6
巴塞隆纳因为安东尼高迪设计的建筑而有名.

Bā sāi lōng nà yīnwèi Ān dōng ní gāo dí shèjì de jiànzhù ér yǒumíng.

Barcelona is famous for its buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi.
7
你的文章中有几部分是从一本有名的杂志中整个抄袭来的.

nǐ de wénzhāng zhōng yǒu jǐ bùfen shì cóng yī běn yǒumíng de zázhì zhōng zhěnggè chāoxí lái de.

Parts of your article have been lifted bodily from a well - known magazine.
8
他们来到了全世界最有名的寻花问柳之地。

tāmen láidào le quánshìjiè zuì yǒumíng de xún huā wèn liǔ zhī dì。

They had come to the world's most famous pick-up joint.
9
在饥荒中,我熟悉了这个有名的姓。

zài jī huāng zhōng, wǒ shúxi le zhège yǒumíng de xìng。

In the famine I got familiar with this famous surname.
10
在饥荒中,我熟悉了这个有名的姓。

zài jī huāng zhōng, wǒ shúxi le zhège yǒumíng de xìng。

In the famine I got familiar with this famous family name.

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Frequently asked questions about 有名

'有名' specifically refers to something that is well-known, so it would not be appropriate to use it for something that is obscure or unknown.

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