Chinese Word
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noun HSK 5
shèng míng
great reputation · fame · renown

Meaning

盛名 refers to a widely recognized and celebrated reputation. It describes someone or something that has achieved great fame and is highly respected or well-known in their field or among the public. The word carries positive connotations of excellence and distinction.

Usage

盛名 is more formal and literary than common words like 有名 or 出名. It's frequently used in written Chinese, news articles, and formal speech to describe famous people, institutions, or cultural works. Often appears in the set phrase 盛名之下，其实难副 (it's hard to live up to a great reputation).

Examples

  1. 01
    这位画家在国际上享有盛名。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā zài guó jì shàng xiǎng yǒu shèng míng.
    This painter enjoys great international fame.
  2. 02
    这家餐厅久负盛名，但我觉得盛名之下，其实难副。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng jiǔ fù shèng míng, dàn wǒ jué de shèng míng zhī xià, qí shí nán fù.
    This restaurant has long enjoyed a great reputation, but I feel it's hard to live up to such fame.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 享有盛名
    xiǎng yǒu shèng míng
    to enjoy great fame
  • 盛名在外
    shèng míng zài wài
    to be famous far and wide
  • 盛名之下，其实难副
    shèng míng zhī xià, qí shí nán fù
    it's hard to live up to a great reputation
  • 久负盛名
    jiǔ fù shèng míng
    to have long enjoyed a great reputation

Antonyms

Origin

盛 originally meant 'abundant' or 'flourishing,' while 名 means 'name' or 'reputation.' Together they form a compound meaning 'flourishing reputation' or 'great fame.'

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