驰名

• Pinyin: chí míng
• Hanzi breakdown: 驰 = 马 (horse) + 也 (also, phonetic) = to gallop/spread; 名 = name/fame

Meaning

Famous; renowned; well-known. Having widespread reputation.

A formal term meaning 'famous far and wide.' Often used in official contexts, brand names, and legal terminology (驰名商标 = well-known trademark). More formal than 著名.

Examples

1. 这家餐厅的烤鸭驰名中外。 This restaurant's roast duck is famous both in China and abroad.
2. 苏州园林驰名世界，每年吸引无数游客。 Suzhou gardens are world-renowned and attract countless tourists every year.
3. 这个品牌已经是驰名商标了。 This brand is already a well-known trademark.

Usage Guide

Context: brands, tourism, reputation

Tone: prestigious

Do Say

• 这里出产的茶叶驰名海内外。(The tea produced here is famous both domestically and abroad.)
• 申请驰名商标需要很多证明材料。(Applying for well-known trademark status requires a lot of documentation.)

Don't Say

• 他在班上驰名 (Too formal and grand for small-scale contexts — use 出名 or 有名 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 驰 (gallop/spread) and 名 (name/fame). The image is of one's name spreading far like a galloping horse.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal