名人

• Pinyin: míng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 名 = 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth); 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Famous person; celebrity. Someone who is widely known and recognised by the public.

Used to refer to anyone who has achieved fame, whether in entertainment, sports, history, literature, or any other field. Unlike 明星 (star), which leans toward entertainment celebrities, 名人 has a broader, more dignified connotation and can include historical figures and distinguished individuals.

Examples

1. 这个城市出过很多历史名人。 This city has produced many famous historical figures.
2. 他从小就想成为一个名人。 He has wanted to become a famous person ever since he was little.
3. 名人说的话不一定都是对的。 What celebrities say is not necessarily all correct.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, media, conversation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她是一位很有影响力的名人。(She is a very influential public figure.)
• 这本书介绍了很多中国古代名人。(This book introduces many famous figures from ancient China.)

Don't Say

• 用'名人'来形容自己的朋友 (Don't call your own friend a 名人 unless they are genuinely well-known — it sounds sarcastic or exaggerated)

Origin & History

A compound of 名 (name/fame) and 人 (person) — a person of renown or repute.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal