noun HSK 5
míng yán
famous saying · well-known quote · maxim

Meaning

名言 refers to a famous saying, quote, or maxim typically attributed to a well-known person, philosopher, or historical figure. It encompasses memorable statements that express wisdom, truth, or insight and are widely recognized and cited in society.

Usage

Commonly used in written Chinese, especially in essays, articles, and formal speeches. Native speakers often use 名言 when citing inspirational quotes or referencing classical wisdom. It's frequently paired with the name of the person who said it, such as 鲁迅的名言 (Lu Xun's famous saying).

Examples

  1. 01
    知识就是力量是培根的名言
    Zhī shí jiù shì liàng shì Péigēn de míng yán.
    'Knowledge is power' is Francis Bacon's famous saying.
  2. 02
    老师经常引用孔子的名言来教育我们。
    Lǎo shī jīng cháng yǐn yòng Kǒng de míng yán lái jiào men.
    The teacher often quotes Confucius's famous sayings to educate us.

Characters

Measure words

  • 一句名言
  • tiáo一条名言

Common collocations

  • 名言警句
    míng yán jǐng
    famous sayings and aphorisms
  • 引用名言
    yǐn yòng míng yán
    to quote a famous saying
  • 留下名言
    liú xià míng yán
    to leave behind a famous saying
  • 经典名言
    jīng diǎn míng yán
    classic famous quote

Origin

Literally combines 名 (famous) and 言 (words/speech), directly conveying the meaning of 'famous words' or 'renowned sayings.'

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