| |
| 名牌 [2025/08/12 13:48] – created xiaoer | 名牌 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| ====== míngpái: 名牌 - Famous Brand, Designer Label ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** mingpai, 名牌, famous brand, designer brand, luxury goods in China, Chinese consumer culture, brand name goods, mingpai meaning, Chinese for brand, social status in China, mianzi, face | |
| * **Summary:** In Chinese, **名牌 (míngpái)** means "famous brand" or "designer label." It's more than just a name; it's a crucial concept in modern Chinese culture, representing quality, success, and social status. Understanding `名牌` is key to grasping contemporary Chinese consumerism, gift-giving etiquette, and the cultural concept of "face" (面子, miànzi). This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage for learners of Chinese. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** míngpái | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A famous, well-known, or prestigious brand. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** `名牌` refers to a brand that everyone recognizes and generally respects. While it often means luxury brands like Gucci or BMW, it can also refer to any top-tier, reputable brand in its field, like Nike in sportswear or Huawei in tech. The core idea is that the brand name itself carries weight, implying quality, reliability, and social recognition. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **名 (míng):** This character means "name" (like in `名字 míngzi`) or "famous/well-known" (like in `有名 yǒumíng`). In this context, it clearly means "famous." | |
| * **牌 (pái):** This character means "brand," "plate," or "sign." It's the physical or conceptual label attached to a product. A common colloquial word for brand is `牌子 (páizi)`. | |
| * When combined, **名牌 (míngpái)** literally translates to "famous brand," a straightforward and logical combination that perfectly captures its meaning. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| `名牌` is a window into modern Chinese society and its values. Its significance is deeply intertwined with two cultural concepts: rapid economic development and **面子 (miànzi) - "face"**. | |
| For decades, consumer goods were scarce and uniform in China. With the economic boom, a new middle and upper class emerged, eager to display their newfound prosperity. `名牌` goods became the most visible and universally understood symbols of success. Owning a designer bag or driving a luxury car is not just a personal choice; it's a public statement about one's achievements and social standing. | |
| This connects directly to `面子 (miànzi)`, or one's social prestige and reputation. Giving a `名牌` item as a gift for a wedding, a business deal, or to an elder is a powerful way to **给面子 (gěi miànzi)**—to give face, or show respect. The recognized value of the brand ensures the recipient and everyone who sees the gift understands the giver's sincerity and generosity. | |
| While Western cultures also have brand consciousness, the link between luxury brands and "face" is often more explicit and socially important in China. In the West, choosing a niche, non-famous brand might be seen as a sign of sophisticated or individualistic taste. In many Chinese contexts, however, choosing the well-known `名牌` is often the safer and more socially intelligent choice, as its value is immediately recognizable to everyone. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `名牌` is a common word in daily conversation, especially when discussing shopping, aspirations, and other people's lifestyles. | |
| * **Connotation:** The connotation is generally **positive** or **neutral**, implying quality and prestige. However, it can sometimes carry a slightly **negative** or judgmental tone when used to describe someone who is materialistic or obsessed with brands. For example, saying someone `浑身都是名牌 (húnshēn dōu shì míngpái)`—"is covered head-to-toe in famous brands"—can imply they are shallow or a `土豪 (tǔháo)`, or "nouveau riche." | |
| * **Common Contexts:** | |
| * **Shopping:** `"我想买一个名牌包包。"` (I want to buy a designer bag.) | |
| * **Aspiration:** `"他努力工作，就是为了能用上名牌。"` (He works hard just so he can afford to use famous brands.) | |
| * **Gift-Giving:** `"给老板送礼，最好选个名牌。"` (When giving a gift to the boss, it's best to choose a famous brand.) | |
| * **Assessing Quality:** `"这虽然不是名牌，但质量很好。"` (Although this isn't a famous brand, the quality is very good.) | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 她只穿**名牌**衣服。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā zhǐ chuān **míngpái** yīfu. | |
| * English: She only wears designer clothes. | |
| * Analysis: A simple, common sentence describing someone's preference. `只 (zhǐ)` means "only," emphasizing her exclusive choice. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这个包是**名牌**吗？看起来很贵。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège bāo shì **míngpái** ma? Kànqǐlái hěn guì. | |
| * English: Is this bag a designer brand? It looks very expensive. | |
| * Analysis: A typical question when seeing a high-quality item. It shows the direct association between `名牌` and high price. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 很多年轻人盲目追求**名牌**，其实没必要。 | |
| * Pinyin: Hěnduō niánqīngrén mángmù zhuīqiú **míngpái**, qíshí méi bìyào. | |
| * English: A lot of young people blindly pursue famous brands; it's actually not necessary. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows a more critical perspective. `盲目追求 (mángmù zhuīqiú)` means "to blindly pursue," giving the sentence a slightly negative, cautionary tone. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 他送给我一块**名牌**手表作为生日礼物。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā sòng gěi wǒ yí kuài **míngpái** shǒubiǎo zuòwéi shēngrì lǐwù. | |
| * English: He gave me a brand-name watch as a birthday present. | |
| * Analysis: Highlights the use of `名牌` in gift-giving to show significance and value. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 在商业场合，使用**名牌**产品可以提升你的形象。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài shāngyè chǎnghé, shǐyòng **míngpái** chǎnpǐn kěyǐ tíshēng nǐ de xíngxiàng. | |
| * English: In business situations, using famous brand products can enhance your image. | |
| * Analysis: This explains the practical function of `名牌` in a professional context, linking it to image (`形象 xíngxiàng`). | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这家奥特莱斯专门卖打折的**名牌**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè jiā àotèláisī zhuānmén mài dǎzhé de **míngpái**. | |
| * English: This outlet store specializes in selling discounted designer brands. | |
| * Analysis: A very practical sentence for anyone who likes shopping. `奥特莱斯 (àotèláisī)` is the transliteration for "outlets," and `打折 (dǎzhé)` means "discounted." | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 是不是**名牌**不重要，好用就行。 | |
| * Pinyin: Shì bu shì **míngpái** bù zhòngyào, hǎoyòng jiù xíng. | |
| * English: It doesn't matter if it's a famous brand or not, as long as it's good to use. | |
| * Analysis: This expresses a pragmatic viewpoint, contrasting brand status with practical utility (`好用 hǎoyòng`). | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他从头到脚都是**名牌**，一看就很有钱。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā cóngtóudàojiǎo dōu shì **míngpái**, yí kàn jiù hěn yǒu qián. | |
| * English: He's dressed in designer brands from head to toe; you can tell he's rich with just one look. | |
| * Analysis: `从头到脚 (cóngtóudàojiǎo)` is a great idiom for "from head to toe." This sentence shows how `名牌` is used as a visual cue for wealth. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 这款手机虽然不是国际**名牌**，但在国内非常有名。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī suīrán bú shì guójì **míngpái**, dàn zài guónèi fēicháng yǒumíng. | |
| * English: Although this model of phone isn't an international famous brand, it's very famous domestically. | |
| * Analysis: This introduces a useful distinction: a brand can be a `名牌` within a country (`国内 guónèi`) without being an international (`国际 guójì`) one. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 为了面子，他借钱买了一辆**名牌**车。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wèile miànzi, tā jièqián mǎi le yí liàng **míngpái** chē. | |
| * English: For the sake of face, he borrowed money to buy a famous-brand car. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence explicitly connects the pursuit of `名牌` with the cultural concept of `面子 (miànzi)`. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most common mistake for learners is confusing `名牌 (míngpái)` with `品牌 (pǐnpái)`. | |
| * **`名牌 (míngpái)` vs. `品牌 (pǐnpái)`** | |
| * **`品牌 (pǐnpái)`** simply means "brand." It's a neutral, technical term. Every company has a `品牌`. | |
| * **`名牌 (míngpái)`** means "FAMOUS brand." It is a subset of `品牌`. All `名牌` are `品牌`, but not all `品牌` are `名牌`. | |
| * **Correct:** `苹果是一个国际品牌。` (Apple is an international brand.) | |
| * **Correct:** `苹果是一个国际名牌。` (Apple is an international famous brand.) | |
| * **Incorrect:** `我朋友开了一家小公司，他想创造一个自己的名牌。` (My friend started a small company, he wants to create his own famous brand.) | |
| * **Why it's wrong:** You can't just "create" a *famous* brand from nothing. The fame has to be earned. The more natural way to say this is: `...他想创造一个自己的品牌 (pǐnpái)` (...he wants to create his own brand). His goal is for it to one day *become* a `名牌`. | |
| * **Not Just for Luxury Goods** | |
| * While often used for high-fashion or luxury items, `名牌` can apply to any category. For example, in China, Haier (海尔) is a `名牌` for home appliances, and Tsingtao (青岛) is a `名牌` for beer. The key attribute is being well-known and reputable, not just expensive. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[品牌]] (pǐnpái) - Brand. The neutral, all-encompassing term. `名牌` is a type of `品牌`. | |
| * [[奢侈品]] (shēchǐpǐn) - Luxury goods. Many `名牌` are `奢侈品`, but not all. A brand like Nike is a `名牌` but not typically considered a `奢侈品`. | |
| * [[面子]] (miànzi) - "Face"; social standing/prestige. Often the cultural motivation behind buying and gifting `名牌`. | |
| * [[高档]] (gāodàng) - High-grade; top-quality. An adjective often used to describe `名牌` products. | |
| * [[山寨]] (shānzhài) - Knockoff; counterfeit product. The opposite of a genuine `名牌` product. | |
| * [[土豪]] (tǔháo) - "Nouveau riche." A slightly derogatory term for people who flaunt their wealth, often by buying lots of `名牌`. | |
| * [[牌子]] (páizi) - A colloquial and common word for "brand," often used interchangeably with `品牌` in conversation. | |
| * [[有名]] (yǒumíng) - Famous. The adjective that defines a `名牌`. A `名牌` is a `有名`的`牌子`. | |