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铭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
铭
míng
to engrave
HSK 7, n, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #39681, Very Hard
铭
míng
inscribed motto
HSK 7, n, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #39681, Very Hard
铭
míng
to engrave, to inscribe
HSK 7, n, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #39681, Very Hard
míng(ming2)ming T2
1to engrave
2inscribed motto
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March 24, 2026
铭(銘)míng(ming2)
铭 (míng) means to engrave or inscribe something, often used in the context of creating a lasting impression or recording important information. It is commonly associated with inscriptions on monuments or memorials, where the engraved text serves to honor or remember a person or event.
Strokes11Radical钅Frequency#39681DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, inscriptions are often found on tombstones or memorials, reflecting the importance placed on remembrance and honor for ancestors. The practice of engraving wise sayings or proverbs is also common, serving to convey moral lessons.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'Ming' vase that has beautiful engravings on it. The character 铭 has the radical '水' (water) on the left, suggesting the fluidity of writing, while the right part '冂' looks like a mouth, as if it is speaking the engraved words out loud.
Meanings of 铭
míng(ming2)
1to engrave
2inscribed motto
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 铭
铭Simplified
銘Traditional
11Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#39681Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 铭
Podcast: 铭
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AI study notes for 铭
Quick Contrast
铭 (míng) vs 刻 (kè) — use 铭 for inscriptions that honor or memorialize, while 刻 is more general for carving or engraving without the same connotation.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the pronunciation; the tone is critical, as 'míng' can be confused with other characters. It's often used in formal contexts, such as literature or speeches, making it less common in casual conversation. Common collocations include '铭文' (inscription) and '铭记' (to remember or engrave in memory).
HSK Study Tips
Although 铭 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners at higher levels who wish to understand literature or historical texts. Students should focus on recognizing the character in written contexts, especially in classical literature.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 铭 with other similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我铭这个' (I engrave this) instead of '我铭记这个' (I remember this) misses the intended meaning of inscribing or remembering.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 铭
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铭 (míng) means to engrave or inscribe something, often used in the context of creating a lasting impression or recording important information. It is commonly associated with inscriptions on monuments or memorials, where the engraved text serves to honor or remember a person or event.
When to use 铭
Be careful with the pronunciation; the tone is critical, as 'míng' can be confused with other characters. It's often used in formal contexts, such as literature or speeches, making it less common in casual conversation. Common collocations include '铭文' (inscription) and '铭记' (to remember or engrave in memory).
铭 or something close to it
铭 (míng) vs 刻 (kè) — use 铭 for inscriptions that honor or memorialize, while 刻 is more general for carving or engraving without the same connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 铭 with other similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我铭这个' (I engrave this) instead of '我铭记这个' (I remember this) misses the intended meaning of inscribing or remembering.
Write 铭
铭
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Grammar patterns of 铭
铭 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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.
那首歌多年来一直____记在我心中。
That song has stuck in my head for years.
Example sentences for 铭 (10)
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1
那首歌多年来一直铭记在我心中。
nà shǒu gē duōniánlái yìzhí míngjì zài wǒ xīnzhōng。
A few facts can be gleaned from other writings and from coins and inscription.
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Word Family of 铭
Words containing this character14
铭记míngjìto engrave in one's memory銘記
座右铭zuòyòumíngmotto座右銘
刻骨铭心kègǔmíngxīnunforgettable刻骨銘心
铭míngto engrave銘
铭刻míngkèa carved inscription銘刻
铭文míngwéninscription銘文
墓志铭mùzhìmíngepitaph墓誌銘
郭台铭guōtáimíngGuo "Terry" Taiming (1950-), prominent Taiwanese businessman, founder of Foxconn郭台銘
碑铭bēimínginscription on stone tablet碑銘
辜鸿铭gūhóngmíngKu Hung-ming or Gu Hongming (1857-1928), Malaysian man of letters, highly regarded for his literary works written mostly in English, and known for his monarchist views辜鴻銘
贝聿铭bèiyùmíngPei Ieoh Ming or I.M. Pei (1917-), famous Chinese-American architect貝聿銘
铭心刻骨míngxīnkègǔundying gratitude銘心刻骨
罗保铭luóbǎomíngLuo Baoming (1952-), sixth governor of Hainan羅保銘
铭心镂骨míngxīnlòugǔundying gratitude銘心鏤骨
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 铭
What does 铭记 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 铭
While both mean 'to engrave', 铭 often implies a deeper significance or permanence, usually associated with honoring someone, whereas 刻 (kè) can refer to general carving or cutting.
It is not commonly used in everyday speech but may appear in formal discussions, literature, and when talking about memorials.
In traditional Chinese, 铭 is written the same way as in simplified Chinese.
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