Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== míngyán: 名言 - Famous Saying, Quote, Aphorism ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 名言, míngyán, famous saying in Chinese, Chinese quotes, Chinese proverbs, aphorism, what does mingyan mean, Confucius quotes, Chinese wisdom, famous Chinese sayings, learn Chinese quotes * **Summary:** **名言 (míngyán)** is the Chinese word for a famous saying, well-known quote, or aphorism, typically from a respected historical figure, philosopher, or literary work. More than just a soundbite, a **名言** is a piece of timeless wisdom often used in education, speeches, and daily life to convey a moral or philosophical point. Understanding **名言** is key to appreciating the cultural values and historical knowledge that shape Chinese communication. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** míngyán * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** A famous saying, well-known quote, or aphorism. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **名言 (míngyán)** as the "greatest hits" of Chinese wisdom. These are memorable sentences spoken or written by people like Confucius, Laozi, or famous poets that have been passed down for centuries. They are used to teach lessons, add weight to an argument, or inspire people. Unlike a casual proverb, a **名言** is usually tied to a specific, well-regarded source. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **名 (míng):** This character means "name," "famous," or "reputation." It's the same character in `名字 (míngzi)`, meaning "name." Here, it signifies something that is well-known and has a distinguished reputation. * **言 (yán):** This character means "word," "speech," or "to say." It depicts a mouth with a tongue, representing the act of speaking. * When combined, **名言 (míngyán)** literally translates to "famous words" or "renowned sayings," which perfectly captures its meaning. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * In Chinese culture, **名言 (míngyán)** are not just decorative phrases; they are foundational pillars of education and moral reasoning. From a young age, students are required to memorize and understand **名言** from classical texts. Quoting an appropriate **名言** in an essay or speech is a sign of a good education and deep thinking. This reflects the high cultural value placed on history, wisdom, and learning from the past. * **Comparison to "Famous Quotes" in the West:** While the West has famous quotes from figures like Shakespeare, Einstein, or Martin Luther King Jr., the Chinese concept of **名言 (míngyán)** often carries a heavier weight of moral and life guidance. A Western quote might be witty, political, or tied to a specific historical event. A **名言**, on the other hand, is more often treated as a universal principle for how to live one's life or understand the world. There's a stronger emphasis on using them for self-cultivation and character building, a direct influence of Confucian values. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **In Education:** This is the most common context. Teachers use **名言** to teach philosophy and history. Students use them in their essays (`作文 - zuòwén`) to strengthen their arguments and earn higher marks. * **In Formal Speeches:** Politicians, business leaders, and academics frequently cite **名言** to sound authoritative, wise, and connected to China's rich cultural heritage. * **In Daily Conversation:** Parents might use a **名言** to teach their child a lesson. For example, after a failure, a parent might say, "失败是成功之母 (shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ) - Failure is the mother of success." * **On Social Media:** Users on platforms like Weibo and WeChat often share images with inspirational **名言** as a form of personal expression or motivation. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这句**名言**出自孔子。 * Pinyin: Zhè jù **míngyán** chūzì Kǒngzǐ. * English: This famous saying comes from Confucius. * Analysis: A simple, common sentence used to attribute a quote. `出自 (chūzì)` means "to come from" or "originate from." * **Example 2:** * 老师让我们背诵一些中国历史上的**名言**。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen bèisòng yīxiē Zhōngguó lìshǐ shàng de **míngyán**. * English: The teacher had us memorize some famous sayings from Chinese history. * Analysis: This highlights the educational role of **名言**. `背诵 (bèisòng)` means "to recite from memory." * **Example 3:** * “时间就是金钱”是一句现代**名言**。 * Pinyin: “Shíjiān jiùshì jīnqián” shì yījù xiàndài **míngyán**. * English: "Time is money" is a modern famous saying. * Analysis: Shows that **名言** aren't exclusively ancient. The measure word for a saying or sentence is `句 (jù)`. * **Example 4:** * 他在文章的结尾引用了一句**名言**，让文章更有深度。 * Pinyin: Tā zài wénzhāng de jiéwěi yǐnyòngle yījù **míngyán**, ràng wénzhāng gèng yǒu shēndù. * English: He quoted a famous saying at the end of his essay, giving it more depth. * Analysis: Demonstrates the practical use of **名言** in writing to improve its quality. `引用 (yǐnyòng)` is the formal word for "to quote." * **Example 5:** * 我最喜欢的**名言**是“有志者，事竟成”。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de **míngyán** shì “yǒuzhìzhě, shì jìng chéng”. * English: My favorite famous saying is "Where there's a will, there's a way." * Analysis: A good sentence pattern for expressing a personal favorite. The quote itself is a well-known inspirational phrase. * **Example 6:** * 这位科学家的**名言**激励了无数年轻人。 * Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā de **míngyán** jīlìle wúshù niánqīng rén. * English: This scientist's famous words have inspired countless young people. * Analysis: Shows how **名言** are seen as sources of inspiration (`激励 - jīlì`). * **Example 7:** * 你知道有什么关于学习的**名言**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào yǒu shé me guānyú xuéxí de **míngyán** ma? * English: Do you know any famous sayings about studying? * Analysis: A practical question you might ask when looking for a specific type of quote. `关于 (guānyú)` means "about" or "regarding." * **Example 8:** * 很多办公室的墙上都挂着**名言**字画。 * Pinyin: Hěnduō bàngōngshì de qiáng shàng dōu guàzhe **míngyán** zìhuà. * English: The walls of many offices have calligraphy scrolls of famous sayings hanging on them. * Analysis: This illustrates a physical and cultural manifestation of **名言** in the form of art (`字画 - zìhuà`). * **Example 9:** * 他虽然书读得不多，但总喜欢说几句**名言**来显得自己有文化。 * Pinyin: Tā suīrán shū dú dé bù duō, dàn zǒng xǐhuān shuō jǐ jù **míngyán** lái xiǎnde zìjǐ yǒu wénhuà. * English: Although he hasn't read many books, he always likes to drop a few famous sayings to seem cultured. * Analysis: This example shows a slightly negative or ironic connotation, where someone uses **名言** pretentiously. * **Example 10:** * “活到老，学到老”这句**名言**告诉我们学习是一辈子的事。 * Pinyin: “Huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo” zhè jù **míngyán** gàosù wǒmen xuéxí shì yībèizi de shì. * English: The famous saying "Live until you're old, learn until you're old" tells us that learning is a lifelong matter. * Analysis: This sentence structure—"[Quote] a famous saying tells us [lesson]"—is very common for explaining the meaning of a **名言**. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * The biggest point of confusion for learners is distinguishing **名言 (míngyán)** from similar terms like `成语 (chéngyǔ)` and `俗语 (súyǔ)`. They are not interchangeable. * **名言 (míngyán) vs. 成语 (chéngyǔ):** * **名言 (míngyán):** A full quote from a known source. It's often a complete sentence or clause. * Example: `有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？ (Yǒu péng zì yuǎnfāng lái, bù yì lè hū?)` - "To have friends come from afar, is that not delightful?" (A **名言** from Confucius). * **成语 (chéngyǔ):** A fixed, four-character idiom that functions like a single word. It usually has a historical story behind it but is not a direct quote. * Example: `画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)` - "to draw a snake and add feet," meaning to ruin something by adding something superfluous. It's a concept, not a full sentence. * **Incorrect Usage:** You wouldn't call `画蛇添足` a **名言**. * **名言 (míngyán) vs. 俗语 (súyǔ):** * **名言 (míngyán):** Comes from a "high culture" source (literature, philosophy) and is attributed to a famous person. Tends to be more formal. * **俗语 (súyǔ):** A "common saying" or proverb from folk wisdom. It's usually anonymous, colloquial, and reflects the experiences of ordinary people. * Example: `吃一堑，长一智 (chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì)` - "Suffer a setback, gain a bit of wisdom" (equivalent to "learn from your mistakes"). This is a **俗语**, not a **名言**. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[成语]] (chéngyǔ) - A four-character idiom. While some `成语` originate from quotes, they function differently grammatically and are considered a distinct category. * [[俗语]] (súyǔ) - A common/folk saying or proverb. Less formal than a `名言` and usually anonymous. * [[谚语]] (yànyǔ) - A proverb or adage. Very similar to `俗语`, often used interchangeably. * [[格言]] (géyán) - A motto or maxim. This term emphasizes a rule or principle to live by, often used for personal mottos. * [[语录]] (yǔlù) - Recorded sayings, a collection of quotes. For example, the `论语 (Lúnyǔ)` or "The Analects" is a famous `语录` of Confucius. * [[孔子]] (Kǒngzǐ) - Confucius. The single most important source of **名言** in Chinese culture. * [[智慧]] (zhìhuì) - Wisdom. The essential quality that **名言** are believed to contain. * [[道理]] (dàolǐ) - Reason, principle, moral lesson. People study **名言** to understand the `道理` within them. * [[经典]] (jīngdiǎn) - A classic (work of literature, film, etc.). **名言** are often taken from `经典` texts.