名贵

• Pinyin: míng guì
• Hanzi breakdown: 名 = 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth) — calling one's name in the dark; 贵 = 中 (middle) + 贝 (shell, currency) — precious, costly

Meaning

Rare and precious; valuable and costly. Describing something of exceptional quality and high worth, often due to rarity or fine craftsmanship.

Applied to rare items such as antiques, medicinal herbs, gemstones, or artworks. Distinguishes items valued for their rarity and intrinsic quality from things that are merely expensive. Common in cultural, medical, and luxury goods contexts.

Examples

1. 这幅画是出自宋代名家之手的名贵古画，估价超过两亿。 This painting is a rare and valuable antique by a renowned Song-dynasty master, appraised at over 200 million.
2. 冬虫夏草和人参都是中医中极为名贵的药材。 Cordyceps and ginseng are both extremely precious medicinal ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.
3. 他的收藏室里摆满了从世界各地带回的名贵宝石。 His collection room is filled with rare, valuable gemstones he brought back from all over the world.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, medicine, luxury, collecting

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 这种名贵木材产自热带雨林，生长极为缓慢，价格不菲。(This rare and precious timber comes from tropical rainforests, grows extremely slowly, and commands a high price.)
• 她戴的那枚戒指镶嵌了一颗极为名贵的蓝宝石，光泽夺目。(The ring she wore was set with an extraordinarily precious sapphire that shone brilliantly.)

Don't Say

• 把'名贵'和'昂贵'混用 (名贵 implies rarity and intrinsic worth, not just a high price tag — for simply expensive things use 昂贵 or 高档)

Origin & History

名 (famous, name) + 贵 (precious, expensive). The combination emphasises both rarity and high intrinsic value.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal