What does 名 mean in Chinese?

名 (míng) means "name; noun (part of speech); place (e.g. among winners); famous; classifier for people" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 名?

名 is pronounced "míng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 名?

名 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 名?

Common words with 名 include 乳名 (pet name for a child), 不名数 (abstract number), 不名誉 (disreputable), 不记名 (see 無記名|无记名[wu2 ji4 ming2]), 中间名 (middle name).

How do you write 名?

名 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 口. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

名 (míng), name

名

míng

name; noun (part of speech); place (e.g. among winners); famous

HSK 2 New to HSKclassifier6 strokes

Character Breakdown

名 = 夕 + 口

Calling out in the evening — a name

Radical: 口 (no. 30)Strokes: 6

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) name
noun (part of speech)
place (e.g. among winners)
famous
classifier for people

Example Sentences

你叫什么名字？

Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi

What's your name?

Words Containing 名

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
乳名	rǔ míng	pet name for a child
不名数	bù míng shù	abstract number
不名誉	bù míng yù	disreputable
不记名	bù jì míng	see 無記名\|无记名[wu2 ji4 ming2]
中间名	zhōng jiān míng	middle name

Related Words

位(wèi)· position

→

三浦(Sān pǔ)· Miura (Japanese surname and place name)

→

三田(sān tián)· 3 annual hunting bouts

→

上田(Shàng tián)· Ueda (Japanese surname and place name)

→

Grammar Notes

Possessive 的HSK 1

Possessor + 的 + Noun

Question Word Questions (什么, 谁, 哪)HSK 1

Same as statement, but replace the unknown element with a question word

Even (连...都/也)HSK 3

连 + Emphasized Element + 都/也 + Verb

Unexpectedly (竟然)HSK 4

Subject + 竟然 + Verb/Adjective

As Expected (果然)HSK 4

Subject + 果然 + Verb/Adjective

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

名: New to the HSK lists at HSK 2. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 名 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.