====== chòu míng zhāo zhù: 臭名昭著 - Infamous, Notorious ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 臭名昭著, chòu míng zhāo zhù, infamous in Chinese, notorious Chinese, bad reputation Chinese, chengyu for infamous, what does choumingzhaozhu mean, Chinese idiom for notorious, learn Chinese idioms.
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
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."
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**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 Sentences =====
  * **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.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **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."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[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**.