排名

• Pinyin: pái míng
• Hanzi breakdown: 排 = 扌(hand) + 非 (opposing), meaning to arrange in a row; 名 = 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth), meaning name or position

Meaning

Ranking; to rank. The position of something in an ordered list.

Used as both a noun (排名第一 = ranked first) and a verb (按成绩排名 = to rank by grades). Common in education, sports, business, and any competitive context. Frequently appears with ordinal positions: 排名前十 (top ten ranking), 排名靠前 (highly ranked). A daily-life word among students and professionals.

Examples

1. 他在班上的考试排名一直很靠前。 His exam ranking in the class has always been near the top.
2. 这家餐厅在网上的排名很高。 This restaurant has a very high ranking online.
3. 大学排名每年都会变化。 University rankings change every year.

Usage Guide

Context: education, sports, competition

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 他在全校排名第三。(He is ranked third in the whole school.)
• 你知道这个品牌的排名吗？(Do you know this brand's ranking?)

Don't Say

• 请排名等一下。(Don't confuse 排名 with 排队 — 排名 means ranking, while 排队 means to queue. Say 请排队等一下.)

Origin & History

排 means to arrange in order (扌hand + 非 opposing, putting things in rows); 名 means name or place (夕 evening + 口 mouth, calling out names in the dark). Together: to arrange by name — ranking.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal