noun HSK 5
stigma · bad reputation · disgrace · infamy
Meaning
污名 refers to a negative reputation or stigma attached to a person, group, or thing that brings shame or dishonor. It describes a mark of disgrace that damages one's social standing or public image, often persisting over time and difficult to remove.
Usage
This is a formal, somewhat literary term commonly used in academic, social commentary, and media contexts. It often appears in discussions about social discrimination, public perception, and reputation management. The phrase 污名化 (wū míng huà, to stigmatize) is frequently used in modern discourse.
Examples
- 01他花了多年时间才摆脱了家族的污名。.It took him many years to shake off his family's stigma.
- 02媒体不应该对精神疾病患者进行污名化。.The media should not stigmatize people with mental illness.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个污名
Common collocations
- 背负污名to bear a stigma
- 洗刷污名to clear one's name
- 摆脱污名to shake off a stigma
- 污名化stigmatization
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 污 (dirty/stain) with 名 (name/reputation) to literally mean 'stained name,' reflecting the concept of a reputation tarnished by disgrace or shame.