铭 (míng) - inscription & engrave

铭Tone 2

míng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

妙慕

铭 · míng

inscription;

engrave;

a style of writing used for inscriptions;

to remember;

to record.

inscriptionengravea style of writing used for inscriptions

Usage highlights

inscriptionengraveremember firmlyepitaphmottobronze inscription

Synonyms

  • 刻— to carve; to engrave
  • 记— to record; to remember

Antonyms

  • 忘— to forget

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He engraved a motto on the plaque (铭刻).
  • This is an ancient bronze inscription (青铜铭文).
  • Her words are etched in my memory (铭记在心).
  • The epitaph recorded his life story (墓志铭).

Collocations

  • inscription(铭文)
  • engrave(铭刻)
  • remember firmly(铭记)
  • epitaph(墓志铭)
  • motto(座右铭)
  • bronze inscription(金文铭文)

Idioms

  • Engrave on one's heart and bones(铭心刻骨)
  • Engrave in one's heart and inscribe in one's bones(铭肌镂骨)
  • Take as a motto(奉为座右铭)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originates from the practice of casting or carving texts on bronze vessels and stone steles in ancient China to record events, virtues, or warnings.
  • Associated with permanence, remembrance, and moral exhortation, as seen in 'motto' (座右铭).
  • Commonly used in names to express the wish for a person to have a memorable, virtuous, and impactful life.

FAQ