明星

• Pinyin: míng xīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 明 (míng) — bright; 星 (xīng) — star

Meaning

Star; celebrity. A famous person, especially in entertainment, sports, or media.

Primarily refers to entertainment celebrities — actors, singers, and social media influencers. Can also be used for sports stars. In modern Chinese, 明星 is the most common word for 'celebrity'. Also used metaphorically: 明星产品 (star product), 明星企业 (star company).

Examples

1. 她是中国很有名的明星。 She is a very famous celebrity in China.
2. 很多年轻人都想当明星。 Many young people want to become celebrities.
3. 这个明星的粉丝特别多。 This celebrity has a huge number of fans.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, media, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你最喜欢的明星是谁？(Who is your favourite celebrity?)
• 他是一个很努力的明星。(He's a very hardworking celebrity.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'明星'来称呼科学家或学者 (Don't use 明星 for scientists or scholars — use 专家 or 学者; 明星 implies entertainment fame)

Origin & History

Compound of 明 (bright) and 星 (star). Literally 'bright star', originally referring to celestial bodies, later extended to mean a famous, shining person.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal