idiom (chengyu) HSK 6
Traditional 聞名遐邇
wén míng xiá ěr
famous far and wide · renowned everywhere · widely known

Meaning

This is a formal chengyu meaning that someone or something is famous across vast distances. It emphasizes that the fame has spread both near and far, reaching even remote places. The expression is often used in written Chinese or formal contexts to describe places, people, or things of exceptional reputation.

Usage

This is a literary chengyu typically used in formal writing, news reports, or speeches rather than everyday conversation. It's commonly used to describe tourist attractions, historical figures, cultural treasures, or prestigious institutions. Native speakers would use simpler terms like 有名 (yǒu míng) or 著名 (zhù míng) in casual speech.

Examples

  1. 01
    长城是闻名遐迩的世界文化遗产。
    Chángchéng shì wén míng xiá ěr de shìjiè wénhuà yíchǎn.
    The Great Wall is a world-famous cultural heritage site.
  2. 02
    这座城市以其闻名遐迩的美食而吸引了无数游客。
    Zhè zuò chéngshì wén míng xiá ěr de měishí ér xīyǐn le wúshù yóukè.
    This city attracts countless tourists with its widely renowned cuisine.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 闻名遐迩的景点
    wén míng xiá ěr de jǐng diǎn
    famous scenic spot
  • 闻名遐迩的大学
    wén míng xiá ěr de xué
    renowned university

Antonyms

Origin

This chengyu combines 闻名 (wén míng, 'famous') with 遐迩 (xiá ěr), a classical pairing meaning 'far and near' to create the meaning 'fame reaches both far and near.' The structure reflects Classical Chinese rhetorical patterns of using opposites to indicate totality.

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