chòu míng zhāo zhù: 臭名昭著 - Infamous, Notorious

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• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) 臭名昭著 (chòu míng zhāo zhù), which means “infamous” or “notorious.” This comprehensive guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use. Discover how to describe someone or something with a widely known and terrible reputation, complete with 10 example sentences, common mistakes for English speakers, and related terms.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chòu míng zhāo zhù
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ), Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be widely and clearly known for having a terrible reputation; infamous, notorious.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a smell so bad that everyone knows exactly where it's coming from. That's the feeling of 臭名昭著. It's not just for someone who is disliked; it's for a person, company, or even a historical figure whose evil deeds or terrible character are famous. The “stinky name” (臭名) is so prominent (昭著) that it can't be ignored. It's a formal and very strong term reserved for significant and public disgrace.

• 臭 (chòu): Stinky, smelly, foul. In this context, it metaphorically describes a reputation as being rotten or disgusting.
• 名 (míng): Name, reputation, fame.
• 昭 (zhāo): Obvious, clear, manifest. It means the bad reputation is not a secret; it's out in the open for everyone to see.
• 著 (zhù): Conspicuous, prominent, well-known. This emphasizes the widespread nature of the bad fame.

When combined, 臭名 (chòu míng) means a “stinky name” or bad reputation. 昭著 (zhāo zhù) means “clearly prominent.” Together, 臭名昭著 (chòu míng zhāo zhù) creates a vivid image of a bad reputation that is both disgusting and impossible to miss.

The weight of 臭名昭著 is deeply rooted in Chinese cultural values, particularly the concepts of 面子 (miànzi - face/social prestige) and 名声 (míngshēng - reputation). In Chinese culture, one's reputation is not just a personal matter; it reflects on one's family, community, and ancestors. To have a “good name” is a primary life goal. Therefore, to be 臭名昭著 is one of the worst social judgments imaginable. It signifies a complete loss of face and a permanent stain on one's name. Comparison to Western Culture: In English, we have “notorious” and “infamous.” While very close in meaning, 臭名昭著 carries a stronger sense of moral condemnation and visceral disgust due to the character 臭 (chòu - stinky). While a figure like Billy the Kid might be “notorious” with a slight hint of romanticized rebellion in Western folklore, a person described as 臭名昭著 in Chinese has virtually no redeeming qualities in the public eye. They are seen as socially and morally “unclean.”

臭名昭著 is a formal idiom (chengyu) and is used accordingly.

• Formal Contexts: You will frequently encounter it in news articles, historical texts, legal documents, and formal speeches. It's the standard term for describing corrupt officials, war criminals, traitors, and disgraced public figures.
• Educated Speech: In conversation, it's used by educated speakers when discussing serious topics. Using it implies a strong, well-considered moral judgment.
• Inappropriate Usage: It is not used in casual, everyday conversation for minor annoyances. Calling your friend who is always late 臭名昭著 would be dramatic and incorrect. It's reserved for serious, widespread infamy.
• Connotation: Its connotation is exclusively and intensely negative. There is no positive or neutral way to use this term.

• Example 1:
  • 这位臭名昭著的独裁者最终被人民推翻了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi chòu míng zhāo zhù de dúcáizhě zuìzhōng bèi rénmín tuīfān le.
  • English: This infamous dictator was finally overthrown by the people.
  • Analysis: A classic usage for a political figure known for cruelty and corruption. It establishes the subject as a universally recognized villain.
• Example 2:
  • 那家公司因生产假冒伪劣产品而臭名昭著。
  • Pinyin: Nà jiā gōngsī yīn shēngchǎn jiǎmào wěiliè chǎnpǐn ér chòu míng zhāo zhù.
  • English: That company is notorious for producing counterfeit and shoddy goods.
  • Analysis: Here, it's applied to an entity (a company) rather than a person. The reason for its infamy is clearly stated with `因…而… (yīn…ér…)`.
• Example 3:
  • 他是历史上臭名昭著的叛徒。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì lìshǐ shàng chòu míng zhāo zhù de pàntú.
  • English: He is an infamous traitor in history.
  • Analysis: This shows its use in a historical context. The label is permanent and widely accepted.
• Example 4:
  • 这个臭名昭著的骗子骗取了很多老人的毕生积蓄。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chòu míng zhāo zhù de piànzi piànqǔle hěnduō lǎorén de bìshēng jīxù.
  • English: This notorious swindler cheated many elderly people out of their life savings.
  • Analysis: Used to describe a criminal whose actions are particularly despicable and well-publicized.
• Example 5:
  • 尽管他试图改善自己的形象，但他臭名昭著的过去仍然困扰着他。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú gǎishàn zìjǐ de xíngxiàng, dàn tā chòu míng zhāo zhù de guòqù réngrán kùnrǎo zhe tā.
  • English: Although he tried to improve his image, his infamous past still haunts him.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the lasting and inescapable nature of being 臭名昭著.
• Example 6:
  • 该地区曾因犯罪率高而臭名昭著，但现在已经安全多了。
  • Pinyin: Gāi dìqū céng yīn fànzuìlǜ gāo ér chòu míng zhāo zhù, dàn xiànzài yǐjīng ānquán duō le.
  • English: The area was once notorious for its high crime rate, but it's much safer now.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that a place, not just a person, can be described with this idiom.
• Example 7:
  • 这名黑客在网络世界臭名昭著，曾多次攻击政府网站。
  • Pinyin: Zhè míng hēikè zài wǎngluò shìjiè chòu míng zhāo zhù, céng duōcì gōngjī zhèngfǔ wǎngzhàn.
  • English: This hacker is infamous in the online world and has attacked government websites multiple times.
  • Analysis: A modern application of the term to the digital realm.
• Example 8:
  • 这项政策因其带来的巨大环境破坏而臭名昭著。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng zhèngcè yīn qí dàilái de jùdà huánjìng pòhuài ér chòu míng zhāo zhù.
  • English: This policy is infamous for the immense environmental damage it caused.
  • Analysis: Shows that an abstract concept like a “policy” can also be the subject.
• Example 9:
  • 在小说里，这个臭名昭著的反派角色最终得到了应有的惩罚。
  • Pinyin: Zài xiǎoshuō lǐ, zhège chòu míng zhāo zhù de fǎnpài juésè zuìzhōng dédàole yīngyǒu de chéngfá.
  • English: In the novel, this notorious villain finally received the punishment he deserved.
  • Analysis: Used in a literary context to describe a fictional character.
• Example 10:
  • 他的一些商业手段虽然合法，但却让他臭名昭著。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yīxiē shāngyè shǒuduàn suīrán héfǎ, dàn què ràng tā chòu míng zhāo zhù.
  • English: Some of his business tactics, though legal, made him infamous.
  • Analysis: This is a nuanced use. It shows that infamy can result from actions that are unethical or immoral, even if they aren't technically illegal.

• Mistake 1: Using it for simple unpopularity.
  • Incorrect: 我的老板很臭名昭著，因为他总是让我们加班。(Wǒ de lǎobǎn hěn chòu míng zhāo zhù, yīnwèi tā zǒngshì ràng wǒmen jiābān.)
  • Reason: This is overly dramatic. The boss is just disliked or demanding (`讨厌 - tǎoyàn` or `严格 - yángé`). 臭名昭著 implies large-scale, public knowledge of serious wrongdoing, like embezzlement or major scandals, not just being a tough boss.
  • Correct: 我的老板很讨厌，总是让我们加班。(Wǒ de lǎobǎn hěn tǎoyàn, zǒngshì ràng wǒmen jiābān.)
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with “famous” (`著名`).
  • `臭名昭著 (chòu míng zhāo zhù)` is “famous” for bad reasons (infamous).
  • `著名 (zhùmíng)` is “famous” for good or neutral reasons (celebrated, well-known).
  • Example: Einstein is 著名, not 臭名昭著. Hitler is 臭名昭著, not 著名.
• Mistake 3: Using it in very casual situations.
  • Incorrect: 我弟弟臭名昭著，因为他不爱洗碗。(Wǒ dìdi chòu míng zhāo zhù, yīnwèi tā bú ài xǐwǎn.)
  • Reason: This is grammatical overkill. It's like using “reprehensible” to describe someone who forgot to take out the trash.
  • Correct/More Natural: 我弟弟懒是出了名的。(Wǒ dìdi lǎn shì chūle míng de.) - “My little brother is famously lazy.”

• 声名狼藉 (shēng míng láng jí) - A close synonym. It means “reputation in tatters/a complete mess.” While both refer to a bad reputation, 臭名昭著 emphasizes that the bad name is *widely known*, while 声名狼藉 emphasizes that the reputation itself is *completely ruined*.
• 臭名远扬 (chòu míng yuǎn yáng) - A synonym meaning “a stinky name that spreads far and wide.” Very similar in meaning and usage to 臭名昭著.
• 遗臭万年 (yí chòu wàn nián) - A much stronger term meaning “to leave a stink for ten thousand years.” This is reserved for the worst villains of history whose evil reputation will never be forgotten (e.g., Qin Hui, Hitler).
• 过街老鼠 (guò jiē lǎoshǔ) - An idiom meaning “a rat crossing the street.” It describes a person who is so hated that everyone wants to “beat” them on sight. It focuses on the universal hatred, whereas 臭名昭著 focuses on the universal knowledge of their bad deeds.
• 著名 (zhùmíng) - Antonym. Famous or celebrated for positive achievements.
• 闻名 (wénmíng) - Antonym. Well-known or famous, generally in a positive or neutral way.
• 名声 (míngshēng) - The core noun. It simply means “reputation” (can be good or bad).
• 面子 (miànzi) - A key cultural concept of “face” or social prestige, which is destroyed when one becomes 臭名昭著.
• 恶劣 (èliè) - An adjective meaning “vile, abominable, or of very poor quality.” It describes the *actions* or *character* that lead to becoming 臭名昭著.