正名

Chinese

		just (right); main; upright just (right); main; upright; straight; correct; principle; Chinese 1st month of year	name; fame; to describe name; fame; to describe; place
trad. (正名)		正	名
simp. #(正名)		正	名

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zhèngmíng

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): zing³ ming⁴
• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): chiàⁿ-miâ / chèng-miâ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhèngmíng
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhèngmíng
    • Wade–Giles: chêng⁴-ming²
    • Yale: jèng-míng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jenqming
    • Palladius: чжэнмин (čžɛnmin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/
    • Homophones:

      [Show/Hide]
      edit edit 正名 證明 / 证明

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: zing³ ming⁴
    • Yale: jing mìhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzing³ ming⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: jing³ ming⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²¹/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiàⁿ-miâ
    • Tâi-lô: tsiànn-miâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: cviarmiaa
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡siã²¹⁻⁴¹ miã²³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /t͡siã¹¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: variant in Taiwan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chèng-miâ
    • Tâi-lô: tsìng-miâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zeangmiaa
    • IPA (Taipei): /t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ miã²³/

Verb

正名

1. to replace the current name or title of something with a new one that reflects its true nature; to restore one's name

   • 子路曰：「衛君待子而為政，子將奚先？」子曰：「必也正名乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子路曰：「卫君待子而为政，子将奚先？」子曰：「必也正名乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Zǐlù yuē: “Wèijūn dài zǐ ér wéizhèng, zǐ jiāng xī xiān?” Zǐyuē: “Bì yě zhèngmíng hū!” [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 故銘者，名也，觀器必也正名，審用貴乎盛德。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     故铭者，名也，观器必也正名，审用贵乎盛德。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons

     Gù míng zhě, míng yě, guān qì bì yě zhèngmíng, shěn yòng guì hū shèngdé. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 2020, “TAIWAN”, 曾博恩 (lyrics), DJ Hauer (music)‎^[1]performed by 曾博恩:

     中華北京　中華上海　中華天津　幫你正名 [MSC, trad.]
     中华北京　中华上海　中华天津　帮你正名 [MSC, simp.]

     Zhōnghuá Běijīng, Zhōnghuá Shànghǎi, Zhōnghuá Tiānjīn, bāng nǐ zhèngmíng [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Noun

正名

1. (philosophy, especially Confucianism) the rectification of names
2. official name

   特首當日建議長者日後領取生果金（正名「高齡津貼」）時要先經過入息及資產審查。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
   特首当日建议长者日后领取生果金（正名「高龄津贴」）时要先经过入息及资产审查。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

   dak⁶ sau² dong¹ jat⁶ gin³ ji⁵ zoeng² ze² jat⁶ hau⁶ leng⁵ ceoi² saang¹ gwo² gam¹ (zing³ ming⁴ “gou¹ ling⁴ zeon¹ tip³”) si⁴ jiu³ sin¹ ging¹ gwo³ jap⁶ sik¹ kap⁶ zi¹ caan² sam² caa⁴. [Jyutping]

   In that address, the Chief Executive proposed the introduction of a means test on income and assets for the elderly to receive the "fruit allowance" (official name: "Old Age Allowance").

3. official title, official post

   • 自家姓朱，名傑，見在充本府正名司吏。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     自家姓朱，名杰，见在充本府正名司吏。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Yongle Encyclopedia

     Zìjiā xìng Zhū, míng Jié, xiàn zài chōng běn fǔ zhèngmíng sī lì. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

References

• “Entry #117543”, in 重編國語辭典修訂本 [Revised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary] (in Chinese), National Academy for Educational Research (Taiwan), 2021.