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著名 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
著名zhùmíngfamousHSK 4, a, 17 strokes, rank #1578, Medium
著名zhùmíngnotedHSK 4, a, 17 strokes, rank #1578, Medium
著名zhùmíngwell-knownHSK 4, a, 17 strokes, rank #1578, Medium
著名zhùmíngcelebratedHSK 4, a, 17 strokes, rank #1578, Medium
zhùmíng(zhu4ming2)zhu ming T4
  1. 1famous
  2. 2noted
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March 24, 2026

著名zhùmíng(zhu4ming2)

著名 (zhùmíng) means famous or well-known, often referring to people, places, or works that are recognized for their significance or excellence. It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts to describe individuals or entities that have achieved a level of fame due to their contributions or characteristics.

Strokes17Frequency#1578DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being 著名 often implies not just fame, but also respect and admiration, as seen with figures like Confucius or contemporary celebrities who represent societal values.

Memory tip

Think of 著 (zhù) as a big, bold 'A' for 'A-list' celebrities, and 名 (míng) as 'name'. Together, they represent a 'name that is bold and stands out', symbolizing someone who is famous and has a notable reputation.

Meanings of 著名

zhùmíng(zhu4ming2)
1famous
2noted
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 著名

著名Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1578Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

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Podcast: 著名

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AI study notes for 著名

Quick Contrast

著名 (famous) vs 知名 (well-known) — use 著名 for entities recognized for excellence, while 知名 is broader and can refer to general recognition without implying excellence.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 著名 with similar terms like 有名 (yǒumíng), which also means famous but is often used in less formal contexts. 著名 is more suitable for formal writing or discussions, especially in academic or professional settings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 著名 connects with other words describing qualities and states, enhancing vocabulary for discussing people and things. Focus on using it in sentences that describe well-known figures or places to reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 著名 with 有名 (yǒumíng), thinking they are interchangeable. For instance, saying '他有名' instead of '他著名' can sound too informal or vague in a professional context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 著名

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Component characters

著zheto make known
11 strokes艹
View full entry
名míngname
HSK 26 strokes口
View full entry

How to say famous in Chinese

“famous” in Chinese is著名zhùmíng

著名 (zhùmíng) means famous or well-known, often referring to people, places, or works that are recognized for their significance or excellence. It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts to describe individuals or entities that have achieved a level of fame due to their contributions or characteristics.

When to use 著名

Be cautious not to confuse 著名 with similar terms like 有名 (yǒumíng), which also means famous but is often used in less formal contexts. 著名 is more suitable for formal writing or discussions, especially in academic or professional settings.

著名 or something close to it

著名 (famous) vs 知名 (well-known) — use 著名 for entities recognized for excellence, while 知名 is broader and can refer to general recognition without implying excellence.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 著名 with 有名 (yǒumíng), thinking they are interchangeable. For instance, saying '他有名' instead of '他著名' can sound too informal or vague in a professional context.

Write 著名

著
名

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

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Grammar patterns of 著名

著名 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 4 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.

索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产____的安茹葡萄酒。

The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.

Example sentences for 著名 (10)

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1
索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。

Suǒ mǐ ěr zhōuwéi de bái è zhì tǔrǎng chū chǎn zhùmíng de Ān rú pútaojiǔ。

The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
2
惠特比镇因为布拉姆·斯托克著名的吸血鬼故事而名传后世。

huì tè bǐ zhèn yīnwèi bù lā mǔ· Sī tuō kè zhùmíng de xī xuè guǐ gùshi ér míng chuán hòushì。

The town of whitby was immortalised in Bram Stoker's famous Dracula story.
3
她是伦敦著名的“薄荷犀牛”夜总会的钢管舞舞者。

tā shì lún dūn zhùmíng de“ báo hé xī niú” yèzǒnghuì de gāng guǎn wǔ wǔ zhě。

She is a pole dancer at London's famous Spearmint Rhino club.
4
他成了他那个时期最著名的演员之一。

tā chéng le tā nàge shíqī zuì zhùmíng de yǎnyuán zhīyī。

He became one of the best known actors of his day.
5
历经发展, 东运已成长中国著名的凹版制版集团企业.

lìjīng fāzhǎn, dōng yùn yǐ chéngzhǎng zhōngguó zhùmíng de āo bǎn zhì bǎn jítuán qǐyè.

After development, the eastern areas have grown famous intaglio printing plate enterprise.
6
最著名的艺术家之一是英国的雕刻师格林林·吉本斯.

zuì zhùmíng de yìshù jiā zhīyī shì Yīng guó de diāokè Shī gé lín lín· jí běn Sī.

One of the most famous artists was the English carver Grinling Gibbons.
7
鲍斯韦尔为怀特博士写过一本著名传记.

bào Sī wéi ěr wèi huái tè bóshì xiě guò yī běn zhùmíng zhuànjì.

Boswell wrote a famous biography of Dr. White.
8
几位著名的研究人员正在研究通气过度的后果。

jǐ wèi zhùmíng de yánjiū rényuán zhèngzài yánjiū tōng qì guòdù de hòuguǒ。

Several notable researchers are studying the effects of hyperventilation.
9
这位著名的作家近几年来作品甚少.

zhè wèi zhùmíng de zuòjiā jìn jǐ nián lái zuòpǐn shén shǎo.

This famous author has produced little in the last few years.
10
数百名的崇拜者包围了这位著名作家.

shù bǎi míng de chóngbài zhě bāowéi le zhè wèi zhùmíng zuòjiā.

Hundreds of admirers besieged the famous writer.

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Frequently asked questions about 著名

Yes, but it is more commonly used for public figures or widely recognized individuals.

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