dì yī míng: 第一名 - First Place, Number One

• Keywords: 第一名, dì yī míng, first place, number one, winner, champion, top student, top rank, Chinese for first place, how to say number one in Chinese, win in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to say “first place” or “number one” in Mandarin Chinese with the term 第一名 (dì yī míng). This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, deep cultural significance in China's competitive society, and practical usage in everyday life. From winning a race to being the top student, discover why being the champion or 第一名 is a goal that carries immense weight and honor in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dì yī míng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: First place; the winner; number one in a ranking.
• In a Nutshell: 第一名 (dì yī míng) is the universal term for the top position in any competition, ranking, or contest. It literally translates to “the first name,” as in the first name on a list of winners. It's used for sports, academic exams, sales charts, and any situation with a clear hierarchy. Achieving 第一名 is a source of great pride and celebration.

• 第 (dì): A prefix that creates ordinal numbers. It transforms the number “one” (一) into “the first.” Think of it as the “-st” in “1st” or the “-th” in “4th”.
• 一 (yī): The number one. It's one of the simplest and most fundamental characters.
• 名 (míng): This character means “name,” “rank,” or “reputation.”
• How they combine: The characters literally assemble into “the first (第一) name/rank (名)”. This beautifully and logically expresses the concept of being the person whose name is at the top of the list.

In Chinese culture, the pursuit of 第一名 is often more intense and carries greater collective weight than the Western concept of “being a winner.” This emphasis is deeply rooted in history, particularly the imperial examination system (科举, kējǔ), where scoring first in the nation could elevate an entire family's social and economic status for generations. Comparison to Western Culture: While winning is celebrated everywhere, the concept of 第一名 in China is less about individual triumph and more about collective honor. Achieving first place brings immense “face” or honor (面子, miànzi) not just to the individual, but to their parents, teachers, and even their hometown. This contrasts with the more individualistic “personal best” focus often seen in the West. In modern China, this pressure is most visible in the education system, where the results of the national college entrance exam (高考, gāokǎo) are a major societal event, and the top scorers (状元, zhuàngyuan) become temporary celebrities. This drive for 第一名 fosters values of perseverance, discipline, and filial piety (honoring one's parents through achievement).

第一名 (dì yī míng) is an extremely common and versatile term used across many contexts.

• Education: This is arguably its most common use. Students strive to be 第一名 in their class, their grade, or the entire school.
• Competitions: It applies to any contest, from a local sporting event (运动会) to an international music competition.
• Business and Sales: Companies and sales teams often talk about being 第一名 in market share, sales volume, or customer satisfaction.
• Informal & Figurative Use: It can be used affectionately or humorously to praise someone. For example, telling a friend, “Your cooking is number one!”

The connotation is almost universally positive, signaling excellence, success, and peak achievement. It is used in both formal and informal settings without much change in meaning.

• Example 1:
  • 他在这次考试中得了第一名。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài zhè cì kǎoshì zhōng déle dì yī míng.
  • English: He got first place in this exam.
  • Analysis: A classic example in an academic context. The verb 得 (dé) is commonly used to mean “to get” or “to obtain” a rank or score.
• Example 2:
  • 恭喜你获得了第一名！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ huòdéle dì yī míng!
  • English: Congratulations on winning first place!
  • Analysis: 获得 (huòdé) is a slightly more formal verb than 得 (dé) for “to obtain” or “to win.” This is a very common congratulatory phrase.
• Example 3:
  • 谁是这次长跑比赛的第一名？
  • Pinyin: Shéi shì zhè cì chángpǎo bǐsài de dì yī míng?
  • English: Who is the winner (first place) of this long-distance race?
  • Analysis: Here, 第一名 functions as a noun, “the winner.” The structure “是…的” is used to emphasize details about a past event.
• Example 4:
  • 我们的目标就是拿第一名。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de mùbiāo jiùshì ná dì yī míng.
  • English: Our goal is to take first place.
  • Analysis: The verb 拿 (ná), meaning “to take” or “to grab,” is often used with prizes and ranks, conveying a sense of active pursuit.
• Example 5:
  • 她的女儿是全班第一名。
  • Pinyin: Tā de nǚ'ér shì quán bān dì yī míng.
  • English: Her daughter is number one in the class.
  • Analysis: In this structure, 第一名 acts as a predicate noun describing the daughter's status. “全班” (quán bān) means “the entire class.”
• Example 6:
  • 你在我心里永远是第一名。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zài wǒ xīnlǐ yǒngyuǎn shì dì yī míng.
  • English: In my heart, you will always be number one.
  • Analysis: A great example of the term's figurative use. It's a sweet, affectionate phrase used for a loved one.
• Example 7:
  • 第一名的选手可以获得一万元奖金。
  • Pinyin: Dì yī míng de xuǎnshǒu kěyǐ huòdé yī wàn yuán jiǎngjīn.
  • English: The first-place contestant will receive a 10,000 yuan prize.
  • Analysis: Here, 第一名 directly modifies the noun 选手 (xuǎnshǒu - contestant), functioning like an adjective.
• Example 8:
  • 这家公司的手机销量排在第一名。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de shǒujī xiāoliàng pái zài dì yī míng.
  • English: This company's mobile phone sales rank first.
  • Analysis: The phrase 排在 (pái zài) means “to be ranked at.” This is a very common structure for discussing rankings and charts.
• Example 9:
  • 为了得第一名，他每天都训练五个小时。
  • Pinyin: Wèile dé dì yī míng, tā měitiān dōu xùnliàn wǔ gè xiǎoshí.
  • English: In order to get first place, he trains for five hours every day.
  • Analysis: 为了 (wèile) means “in order to” and clearly shows that 第一名 is the goal or purpose of the action.
• Example 10:
  • 他不满足于第二名，一心只想当第一名。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù mǎnzú yú dì èr míng, yīxīn zhǐ xiǎng dāng dì yī míng.
  • English: He wasn't satisfied with second place; he single-mindedly wants to be number one.
  • Analysis: 当 (dāng) means “to be” or “to act as.” It's used here to express the desire to hold the position or role of 第一名.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 第一 (dì yī) and 第一名 (dì yī míng).

• 第一 (dì yī) means “the first” and is used as an ordinal prefix for almost anything. It functions as an adjective or adverb.
• 第一名 (dì yī míng) specifically means “first place” and is a noun. It refers to the rank itself.

Examples:

• Correct: 这是我第一次来中国。(Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó.) - This is my first time coming to China.
• Incorrect: 这是我第一名次来中国。 (This is my first place time…)
• Correct: 他得了第一名。(Tā déle dì yī míng.) - He got first place.
• Acceptable but less common: 他得了第一。(Tā déle dì yī.) - This is understood as “he got number one,” but 第一名 is clearer when referring to the rank as a prize or achievement.

Think of it this way: 第一 is for ordering (first day, first step, first person), while 第一名 is for ranking (he won first place).

• 冠军 (guànjūn) - Champion. A more formal synonym for 第一名, often used for major sporting events (like the Olympics) or official championships.
• 第一 (dì yī) - The first; number one. The core ordinal component of 第一名. Used for general sequencing.
• 名次 (míngcì) - Rank; placement. The general word for one's position in a competition. (e.g., “What was your rank?” - 你的名次是多少？)
• 最后一名 (zuìhòu yī míng) - Last place. The direct antonym of 第一名.
• 前三名 (qián sān míng) - The top three places. A common and respectable achievement goal in fierce competitions.
• 榜首 (bǎngshǒu) - Top of the list/charts. A more literary or formal term, literally “head of the list.” Often seen in news headlines about business or music charts.
• 第二名 (dì èr míng) - Second place. The runner-up.
• 得奖 (dé jiǎng) - To win a prize. A broader term that doesn't specify the rank. Someone who gets 第一名 will also 得奖.
• 高考状元 (gāokǎo zhuàngyuan) - The top scorer in the national college entrance exam. The ultimate embodiment of academic 第一名 in China.