míngcì: 名次 - Rank, Position (in a competition/list)

• Keywords: mingci, 名次, Chinese for rank, Chinese for position, competition ranking, academic ranking in China, what is mingci, 名次 meaning, how to use mingci, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the meaning of míngcì (名次), a fundamental Chinese word for “rank” or “position,” especially in a competitive setting. This page explores its crucial role in Chinese culture, particularly in education and sports, where your míngcì is often seen as a measure of success. Learn how to use it correctly in sentences, understand its cultural weight, and see how it differs from similar terms like páimíng (排名).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): míngcì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A person's or thing's specific place or position in a ranked sequence, such as a competition, examination, or list.
• In a Nutshell: Míngcì is the word you use when talking about where someone finished in a race, their rank in class, or their position on a leaderboard. It's not just a number; in Chinese culture, it carries the weight of comparison, achievement, and social standing. If you imagine a list of names ordered from best to worst, your míngcì is your specific spot on that list.

• 名 (míng): This character's primary meaning is “name.” It can also mean “fame,” “reputation,” or “famous.” Think of it as the label or identifier for a person or thing.
• 次 (cì): This character means “order,” “sequence,” or “next.” It depicts a sequence or a turn in a series.
• Together, 名 (name) + 次 (order) literally means “named order” or “a name's position in a sequence.” This perfectly captures the idea of a specific, named rank within a larger hierarchy.

In many Western cultures, while class rank exists, it's often downplayed or kept private to encourage a focus on personal growth. In China, míngcì is a far more public and central concept, especially within the education system. From a very young age, students are acutely aware of their míngcì in the class. Exam results and rankings are often posted publicly for all students, parents, and teachers to see. This creates an environment of intense competition where improving one's míngcì is a primary goal. This isn't just about individual pride; a good míngcì is a source of immense honor for the entire family. It's seen as a direct reflection of a student's diligence and a parent's successful upbringing. The ultimate expression of this is the gāokǎo (高考), the national college entrance exam. A student's nationwide míngcì on this single exam can determine which university they can attend and, by extension, their entire career path. Therefore, míngcì is not just a “position”; it's a deeply ingrained cultural concept tied to success, family honor, and societal pressure.

Míngcì is a common word used in various competitive contexts.

• In Education: This is the most frequent use. Students, parents, and teachers constantly discuss míngcì after every exam.
  • “What was your rank this time?” (这次你名次多少？)
• In Sports: Used to ask about the results of a race, tournament, or any athletic competition.
  • “He got a good placing in the swimming competition.” (他在游泳比赛中获得了不错的名次。)
• In Business: Companies rank their sales teams, products, or regional offices. Performance reviews can also be based on an employee's 名次 relative to their peers.
• Online & Gaming: Gamers on leaderboards are obsessed with their míngcì. Search engine results (like on Baidu) are also referred to by their 名次.

The connotation of míngcì is generally neutral—it's a factual descriptor. However, the *context* surrounding it is often emotionally charged. A good 名次 brings joy and pride, while a poor one can lead to disappointment and stress.

• Example 1:
  • 这次考试，你的名次是多少？
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì kǎoshì, nǐ de míngcì shì duōshǎo?
  • English: What was your rank in this exam?
  • Analysis: A very common and direct question used between students or from a parent to a child. This is a classic example of its use in an academic context.
• Example 2:
  • 他很在意自己在班里的名次。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn zàiyì zìjǐ zài bān lǐ de míngcì.
  • English: He really cares about his rank in the class.
  • Analysis: The verb 在意 (zàiyì), “to care about,” is often used with 名次 to describe the cultural pressure and personal importance placed on rankings.
• Example 3:
  • 在这次马拉松比赛中，我取得了不错的名次。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè cì mǎlāsōng bǐsài zhōng, wǒ qǔdéle bùcuò de míngcì.
  • English: I got a pretty good placing in this marathon.
  • Analysis: Here, 取得了 (qǔdéle) means “achieved” or “obtained.” The phrase 不错的 (bùcuò de), “not bad” or “pretty good,” is a common, humble way to say you did well.
• Example 4:
  • 虽然名次不理想，但我们都尽力了。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán míngcì bù lǐxiǎng, dàn wǒmen dōu jìnlì le.
  • English: Although the rank wasn't ideal, we all tried our best.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how to talk about a disappointing result. 不理想 (bù lǐxiǎng) means “not ideal” and is a softer way of saying “bad.”
• Example 5:
  • 为了提高名次，他每天学习到深夜。
  • Pinyin: Wèile tígāo míngcì, tā měitiān xuéxí dào shēnyè.
  • English: In order to improve his rank, he studies late into the night every day.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between effort and rank, a core belief in Chinese education. 为了 (wèile) means “in order to.”
• Example 6:
  • 我们不应该只看重名次，过程更重要。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù yīnggāi zhǐ kànzhòng míngcì, guòchéng gèng zhòngyào.
  • English: We shouldn't only value rank; the process is more important.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses a common counter-argument to the intense focus on rankings. 看重 (kànzhòng) means “to value” or “to regard as important.”
• Example 7:
  • 他的名次从第十名前进到了第五名。
  • Pinyin: Tā de míngcì cóng dì shí míng qiánjìn dàole dì wǔ míng.
  • English: His rank advanced from tenth place to fifth place.
  • Analysis: Note that when stating the specific rank, you use 第 (dì) + [number] + 名 (míng). 名次 is used here as the general subject (“his rank”).
• Example 8:
  • 这个学校非常重视学生的名次。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xuéxiào fēicháng zhòngshì xuéshēng de míngcì.
  • English: This school places great importance on students' rankings.
  • Analysis: 重视 (zhòngshì) is a more formal synonym for 看重 (kànzhòng) and is often used to describe the attitude of an institution.
• Example 9:
  • 在电子游戏里，他的世界名次很高。
  • Pinyin: Zài diànzǐ yóuxì lǐ, tā de shìjiè míngcì hěn gāo.
  • English: In the video game, his world ranking is very high.
  • Analysis: This shows the application of 名次 in a modern, global context like online gaming leaderboards.
• Example 10:
  • 获得一个好名次能给整个团队带来荣誉。
  • Pinyin: Huòdé yīgè hǎo míngcì néng gěi zhěnggè tuánduì dàilái róngyù.
  • English: Getting a good rank can bring honor to the whole team.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects 名次 with the concept of collective 荣誉 (róngyù), or “honor/glory.”

• `名次` (míngcì) vs. `排名` (páimíng): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • `名次` (míngcì) refers to the specific result or position (e.g., “fifth place,” “a good rank”). It's a noun.
  • `排名` (páimíng) can refer to the ranking list itself (e.g., “the class ranking chart”) or the act of ranking.
  • In many cases, they are interchangeable, especially in questions. Both `你的名次是多少？` and `你的排名是多少？` are correct for “What is your rank?”. However, you would say `看排名` (look at the ranking list), not `看名次`.
• Don't add `名次` after a specific number: A very common mistake for learners is to say something like `第一名次` (first rank). This is incorrect. To state a specific rank, you use the structure 第 (dì) + [Number] + 名 (míng).
  • Correct: 他得了第一名。 (Tā déle dì yī míng.) - He got first place.
  • Incorrect: 他得了第一名次。
  • Correct: 他想得一个好名次。 (Tā xiǎng dé yīgè hǎo míngcì.) - He wants to get a good rank.
• `名次` is not for military or social class “rank”: In English, “rank” can refer to a military title (e.g., “General”) or a social hierarchy. 名次 is used exclusively for a position in a sequential, competitive list. For military rank, you would use a word like 军衔 (jūnxián).

• 排名 (páimíng) - The ranking list or the action of ranking. Often used interchangeably with `名次` but is broader in meaning.
• 第一名 (dì yī míng) - First place. The most desirable `名次`.
• 最后一名 (zuìhòu yī míng) - Last place.
• 成绩 (chéngjì) - Grades; score; results. The data used to determine a student's `名次`.
• 比赛 (bǐsài) - Competition; match. An event where `名次` is determined.
• 考试 (kǎoshì) - Exam; test. The most common type of `比赛` for students in China.
• 高考 (gāokǎo) - The National College Entrance Examination. The most important `名次` a Chinese student will ever receive.
• 名额 (míng'é) - Quota; the number of allowed spots. A high `名次` is required to secure a limited `名额` for a top university or job.
• 荣誉 (róngyù) - Honor; glory. A primary reward for achieving a good `名次`.
• 竞争 (jìngzhēng) - Competition. The environment in which `名次` becomes important.