非常有名
fēicháng yǒumíng
The English phrase "very famous" is translated into Chinese as 非常有名 (fēicháng yǒumíng).
非常有名 is used to describe someone or something that is known by many people.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 非常 (very) and 有名 (to have fame/name).
Which one should you use?
While 非常有名 means "very famous", 很有名 is a more common, slightly more colloquial way to express the same idea in spoken Chinese.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, you can use 好紅 to convey the meaning of "very famous". In Taiwanese Mandarin, people often use 好有名 to express the concept of being "very famous".
How does it change in a sentence?
Because 非常 is an adverb of degree, you should not use the particle 很 immediately before 非常 in this phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
fēicháng yǒumíng
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese internet slang, the term 大V is used to describe a 'very famous' social media influencer. The 'V' refers to the gold verification badge seen on platforms like Weibo.
- The word 非常 in 非常有名 originally meant 'extraordinary' or 'unusual'. Over time, it shifted from describing a rare quality to acting as a standard intensifier meaning 'very'.
- While 'very famous' sounds positive, in certain contexts, saying someone is 有名 can subtly imply they are 'notorious' or have a 'big name' for the wrong reasons.
Examples in context
- 基隆的海鮮餐廳非常有名。The seafood restaurants in Keelung are very famous.Tatoeba #13547804 by LeviHighway, translation #13561241 by LeviHighway
- 新竹的貢丸和米粉非常有名，吸引不少遊客品嚐。Hsinchu's meatballs and rice noodles are very famous, attracting many tourists to taste them.Tatoeba #13537650 by LeviHighway, translation #13545821 by LeviHighway
- 這裡製造的葡萄酒非常有名。Wine made here is very famous.Tatoeba #797015 by Martha, translation #61877 by CK
- 他是一位很有名的歌手。He is a very famous singer.
- 她的作品极其有名。Her works are extremely famous.
- 这是一部超有名的电影。This is a super famous movie.
- 那个餐厅的菜特别有名。The dishes at that restaurant are particularly famous.
Example conversation
志强 and 雨婷 are discussing a tourist attraction.
- 志强 Zhiqiang妳聽說過這個景點嗎？Nǐ tīngshuōguò zhège jǐngdiǎn ma?Have you heard of this scenic spot?
- 雨婷 Yuting聽說過，它非常有名。Tīngshuōguò, tā fēicháng yǒumíng.I have, it is very famous.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那我們週末要去看看嗎？Nà wǒmen zhōumò yào qù kàn kàn ma?Then shall we go see it this weekend?
- 雨婷 Yuting好啊，我很想去。Hǎo a, wǒ hěn xiǎng qù.Sure, I really want to go.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
