adj.
famous; well-known; celebrated
有名
famous; well-known; celebrated
Literally 'have name' (有 have + 名 name/fame). Well-known, famous, or renowned; say 很有名 (very famous).
Common Usage & Traps
- 有名的茶馆 — a famous teahouse
- 很有名 — famous (the default way to state it)
- 有名的人 — a famous person
- 特别有名 — especially famous
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他是很有名他很有名是 links two nouns like an equals sign. 有名 describes him, so it stands alone.
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有名茶馆有名的茶馆Two-syllable describing words almost always need 的 before a noun, or it reads like a headline.
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这家茶馆有名这家茶馆很有名With no degree word in front, a plain statement sounds like you're contrasting it with somewhere else.
Why does 他很有名 sound right, but 他是很有名 sound broken?
是 is an equals sign between two nouns; 有名 already describes him, so it needs no link.
English says "He is famous," so your brain automatically reaches for 是. But 是 works like an equals sign between two nouns: 她是我的老师. 有名 already does the describing job on its own, so 他很有名 needs no connector. 是 only shows up when it's linking two actual nouns with 有名 sitting in between: 他是有名的茶馆老板. Drop the noun and the 是 has nothing to link, which is why 他是很有名 falls apart.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| He is famous | 他很有名 | 他是很有名 |
| That teahouse is famous | 那个茶馆很有名 | 那个茶馆是很有名 |
| She is my teacher (noun after 是) | 她是我的老师 | 她我的老师 |
| 是 linking nouns, 有名 in the middle | 他是有名的茶馆老板 | 他是很有名的 |
Can you drop 的 and say 有名茶馆 instead of 有名的茶馆?
Two-syllable describing words almost always need 的 before a noun.
有名 is two syllables, and two-syllable describing words nearly always take 的 in front of a noun. 有名的茶馆, 有名的城市, 有名的人 — that little 的 is doing real work, not decoration. Drop it and 有名茶馆 sounds like a news headline or a menu listing, not a person talking. Short one-syllable words play by different rules: 高楼, 新房, no 的 needed at all.
“北京有一个有名的老茶馆儿，叫“老舍茶馆”。” (There's a famous old teahouse in Beijing called 'Lao She Teahouse'.)
“北京有一个有名的老茶馆儿，叫“老舍茶馆”。” (There's a famous old teahouse in Beijing called 'Lao She Teahouse'.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| A famous teahouse | 有名的茶馆 | 有名茶馆 |
| A famous city | 有名的城市 | 有名城市 |
| One-syllable describing word | 高楼 | 高的楼 |
| How it sounds | someone talking | a news headline |
Can you just say 这家茶馆有名, or do you need 很 in there?
For a flat statement you want a degree word; bare 有名 sounds like you're comparing it to somewhere else.
Chinese describing words usually carry a degree word when they're the main point of the sentence. The 很 here doesn't really mean "very" — it's a placeholder that lets 有名 sit comfortably as the main description. Say 这家茶馆有名 and it sounds like you're picking it out of a lineup, answering a question nobody asked. Want a genuine "very"? Swap in 特别 or 非常: 这家茶馆特别有名.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Just stating a fact | 这家茶馆很有名 | 这家茶馆有名 |
| Extra strength | 这家茶馆特别有名 | 这家茶馆有名特别 |
| How it lands | a normal claim | picking it out of a lineup |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
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我的朋友说这个饭馆虽然很小，但是很 有名 。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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胡之适是一位 有名 的学者。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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北京有一个 有名 的老茶馆儿，叫“老舍茶馆”。
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