大名鼎鼎

• Pinyin: dà míng dǐng dǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = great; 名 = name; 鼎 = ceremonial tripod, symbolizing importance

Meaning

Famous; renowned; well-known. An idiom emphasizing that someone's name is widely recognized and respected.

A strong expression for fame, suggesting the person's reputation precedes them. The reduplication of 鼎 (an ancient ceremonial vessel symbolizing authority and importance) intensifies the sense of weightiness and prestige.

Examples

1. 他就是大名鼎鼎的企业家马云，阿里巴巴的创始人。 He is the famous entrepreneur Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba.
2. 这家餐厅在当地大名鼎鼎，一到周末就得排长队。 This restaurant is well-known locally — you have to wait in long lines on weekends.
3. 她终于见到了那位大名鼎鼎的作家，激动得说不出话来。 She finally met that famous author and was so excited she couldn't speak.

Usage Guide

Context: fame, introduction

Tone: admiring

Do Say

• 他可是大名鼎鼎的人物。(He's quite a famous figure.)
• 这是大名鼎鼎的故宫博物院。(This is the renowned Palace Museum.)

Don't Say

• 我在朋友圈大名鼎鼎 (大名鼎鼎 implies broad, public fame — being known in your friend circle doesn't count)

Origin & History

Idiom where 大名 (great name/reputation) + 鼎鼎 (emphatic reduplication from 鼎, symbolizing weight/importance). Together meaning a name of great weight.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal