ming4

Jyutpingming4
Yalemìhng
名詞Very common

Definition

Famous, well-known, or of high status.

neutraldescriptionspeople

How it's used

Distinguish between the noun usage meaning name and the attributive usage meaning famous. When functioning as an adjective to describe someone or something with a high reputation, it is almost always paired with 出 to form the compound 出名. Using 名 alone as a direct adjective is rare and usually restricted to specific compounds like 名牌 or 名人.

Examples

Do you know which one is the famous brand?

Common phrases

famous brand

Common mistake

Learners often try to use 名 as a standalone adjective like famous in English, but saying 佢好名 is grammatically incorrect. You must use 出名 instead to convey the meaning of being well known.

Grammar color guide

Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector