míngshēng: 名声 - Reputation, Fame, Name

• Keywords: 名声, mingsheng, Chinese reputation, fame in Chinese, what does mingsheng mean, Chinese culture face, social standing in China, public perception Chinese, 名誉, 名气, 口碑
• Summary: 名声 (míngshēng) is the essential Chinese word for “reputation,” “fame,” or one's public “name.” It represents the collective opinion people have of an individual, family, or company. Far more than just celebrity fame, 名声 is a cornerstone of Chinese society, deeply connected to concepts like “face” (面子) and trust. Understanding 名声 is crucial for navigating social and professional relationships in China, as it reflects one's character and social worth.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): míngshēng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The public opinion, perception, or social standing of a person or entity; reputation.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `名声` as the “sound of your name” in the community. It's what people say about you when you're not in the room. This reputation is built slowly over time through your actions, words, and character (`人品`). It can be good (`好名声`), bad (`坏名声`), or even ruined completely. In Chinese culture, protecting your `名声` is paramount, as it directly impacts your social standing, trustworthiness, and opportunities.

• 名 (míng): This character means “name,” “fame,” or “famous.” It's composed of 夕 (xī - evening) and 口 (kǒu - mouth). The ancient idea was of calling out someone's name in the dark to identify them. For learners, simply remember it as “name” or “fame.”
• 声 (shēng): This character means “sound” or “voice.” The character itself originally depicted a hand striking a musical stone (磬) with an ear (耳) listening nearby. For learners, remember it as “sound” or “voice.”

When combined, 名声 (míngshēng) literally translates to the “sound of one's name.” This beautifully captures the idea of a reputation—it's the echo and resonance your name has in public discourse.

`名声` is a pillar of Chinese social ethics, more deeply ingrained than the Western concept of “reputation.” While an American might think of reputation in terms of a resume, credit score, or personal brand, `名声` is more holistic and communal.

• Connection to `面子 (miànzi)` - “Face”: A good `名声` gives you and your family `面子` (face/social prestige). Conversely, a scandal that ruins your `名声` causes a great loss of face not just for you, but for your entire social circle. The two concepts are inseparable. An action that damages your `名声` is an action that makes you `丢脸 (diūliǎn)` (lose face).
• Collective vs. Individualistic: In the West, reputation is often seen as an individual's asset to be managed. In China, `名声` is a collective property. Your actions reflect upon your parents, your hometown, and your company. This is why public behavior is often more reserved; the social stakes are higher because your `名声` is not just your own.
• Long-Term Moral Judgment: Western reputation can sometimes be quickly repaired with good PR. `名声`, however, is tied to `人品 (rénpǐn)`—one's fundamental moral character. It is built over a lifetime and, once tarnished, is incredibly difficult to restore. It's less about what you've achieved and more about *who you are* as a person, as judged by the community.

`名声` is a word used frequently in daily life, from casual gossip to formal business negotiations.

• In Business: A company's `名声` is its most valuable asset. A company with a `好名声` is considered reliable and trustworthy. Before partnering with a new company, a Chinese business owner will almost certainly ask about its `名声`.
• In Personal Relationships: When considering a potential partner for marriage, families will inquire about the person's `名声`. Is he known for being hardworking and honest? Is she known for being kind and filial? A `坏名声` (bad reputation) can be a deal-breaker.
• Adjectives are Key: `名声` is almost always qualified by an adjective. The most common pairings are:
  • 好名声 (hǎo míngshēng): a good reputation
  • 坏名声 (huài míngshēng): a bad reputation
  • 名声在外 (míngshēng zàiwài): to have a reputation that is widely known (can be neutral, but often positive)
  • 名声大噪 (míngshēng dà zào): to become famous/renowned suddenly

• Example 1:
  • 他在业内有很好的名声。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài yènèi yǒu hěn hǎo de míngshēng.
  • English: He has a very good reputation in the industry.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of how `名声` is used in a professional context. It implies he is respected, trustworthy, and competent.
• Example 2:
  • 我们要爱惜自己的名声，不要做丢脸的事。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yào àixī zìjǐ de míngshēng, bùyào zuò diūliǎn de shì.
  • English: We must cherish our own reputation and not do things that cause us to lose face.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly links `名声` (reputation) with `丢脸` (losing face), showing their cultural connection. `爱惜 (àixī)` means “to cherish” or “to treasure,” highlighting the value placed on reputation.
• Example 3:
  • 这家公司的名声因为产品质量问题变坏了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de míngshēng yīnwèi chǎnpǐn zhìliàng wèntí biàn huài le.
  • English: This company's reputation got worse because of product quality issues.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of how a specific event can damage a company's `名声`. Note the use of `变坏了 (biàn huài le)` to mean “turned bad.”
• Example 4:
  • 他为了钱什么都做，一点儿也不在乎自己的名声。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile qián shénme dōu zuò, yīdiǎnr yě bùzàihū zìjǐ de míngshēng.
  • English: He'll do anything for money; he doesn't care about his reputation at all.
  • Analysis: This sentence portrays someone with poor moral character (`人品`). Disregarding one's `名声` is seen as a serious flaw.
• Example 5:
  • 他的名声不太好，你最好离他远一点。
  • Pinyin: Tā de míngshēng bù tài hǎo, nǐ zuìhǎo lí tā yuǎn yīdiǎn.
  • English: His reputation isn't very good, you'd better stay away from him.
  • Analysis: This shows the practical, social consequence of having a bad `名声`. People will avoid you.
• Example 6:
  • 这位作家的名声早已传遍了全国。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi zuòjiā de míngshēng zǎoyǐ chuánbiàn le quánguó.
  • English: This author's fame has long since spread throughout the whole country.
  • Analysis: Here, `名声` leans more towards “fame” or “renown,” but it still implies a positive reputation built on literary achievement, not just celebrity.
• Example 7:
  • 建立一个好名声需要很多年，但毁掉它只需要一分钟。
  • Pinyin: Jiànlì yīgè hǎo míngshēng xūyào hěn duō nián, dàn huǐdiào tā zhǐ xūyào yī fēnzhōng.
  • English: It takes many years to build a good reputation, but only a minute to destroy it.
  • Analysis: A universal truth that is particularly resonant in Chinese culture, highlighting the fragility of one's `名声`.
• Example 8:
  • 他的英雄事迹为他赢得了不朽的名声。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yīngxióng shìjì wèi tā yíngdéle bùxiǔ de míngshēng.
  • English: His heroic deeds won him an immortal reputation.
  • Analysis: A more formal and literary use of `名声`. `不朽的 (bùxiǔ de)` means “immortal” or “everlasting,” used here to describe a legendary reputation.
• Example 9:
  • 这次丑闻让他的名声扫地。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì chǒuwén ràng tā de míngshēng sǎodì.
  • English: This scandal dragged his reputation through the mud.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom `名声扫地 (míngshēng sǎodì)`, which literally means “reputation swept to the floor.” It's a powerful and common way to say someone's reputation is completely ruined.
• Example 10:
  • 我不认识他，但听说过他的名声。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù rènshi tā, dàn tīngshuō guò tā de míngshēng.
  • English: I don't know him personally, but I've heard of his reputation.
  • Analysis: This shows how `名声` precedes a person. It's the “word on the street” about someone, separate from direct personal experience.

The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing `名声` from similar-sounding words.

• `名声 (míngshēng)` vs. `名气 (míngqì)` - Reputation vs. Fame
  • `名声 (míngshēng)` is about character and public opinion. It carries a moral judgment and can be good or bad. A respected professor has a good `名声`. A corrupt official has a bad `名声`.
  • `名气 (míngqì)` is about fame, popularity, and how well-known someone is. It's usually neutral or positive and doesn't inherently imply good character. A pop star has great `名气`.
  • Key test: You can have great `名气` (be very famous) but have a terrible `名声` (bad reputation).
  • Incorrect: `那个歌星有很多好名声。` (That pop star has a lot of good reputation.)
  • Correct: `那个歌星名气很大，名声也很好。` (That pop star is very famous, and his reputation is also very good.)
• `名声 (míngshēng)` vs. `名誉 (míngyù)` - Reputation vs. Honor
  • `名誉 (míngyù)` is more formal and serious than `名声`. It often translates to “honor,” “prestige,” or a “good name” that one must defend. You might hear it used in legal contexts, like in a “defamation of honor” (`损害名誉权`) lawsuit. `名声` is for everyday reputation; `名誉` is for one's formal honor and integrity.

• 面子 (miànzi) - “Face” or social prestige. A good `名声` is a primary source of `面子`.
• 名誉 (míngyù) - Honor, good name. A more formal synonym for a positive `名声`.
• 名气 (míngqì) - Fame, popularity. Describes how well-known someone is, distinct from their moral reputation (`名声`).
• 声誉 (shēngyù) - Prestige, repute. A very formal term, often used for institutions, corporations, or nations (e.g., `学校的声誉` - the university's prestige).
• 口碑 (kǒubēi) - “Word-of-mouth” reputation. Refers specifically to what people are saying, often in the context of products or services. A restaurant with good food has a good `口碑`.
• 人品 (rénpǐn) - Moral character. Considered the foundation of a person's `名声`. A person with bad `人品` cannot have a good `名声`.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Relationships, connections. Building a good `名声` is essential for establishing the trust needed for strong `关系`.
• 名声扫地 (míngshēng sǎodì) - A common idiom meaning “reputation in tatters” or “completely discredited.”
• 臭名昭著 (chòumíng zhāozhù) - An idiom for being infamous or notorious; having an extremely bad `名声`.