铭 meaning and stroke order
To engrave, to inscribe
How to write 铭, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 铭
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to engrave
- inscribed motto
How 铭 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To carve 钅 one's name 名; 名 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 铭
Picture carving your name 名 (míng) into metal 钅. That is 铭 (míng), to engrave, and 名 also gives the sound.
铭 is mostly used in formal or written words about engraving something, either on metal or stone, or deep in your memory. You will meet it in 铭记 (míngjì), 座右铭 (zuòyòumíng), and the idiom 刻骨铭心 (kègǔmíngxīn). Example: 我们要铭记历史。(Wǒmen yào míngjì lìshǐ.) We must keep history in our memory.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 名 alone in 铭记, or mix 铭 up with 名 because both are read míng. Remember that 铭 always has the metal radical 钅 on the left when it means engraving.
Common words with 铭
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
铭 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 铭
How many strokes are in 铭?
铭 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 铭 mean?
铭 (míng) means to engrave, to inscribe. A common word with it is 铭记 (míngjì), meaning "to engrave in one's memory".
How do you pronounce 铭?
铭 is pronounced míng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 铭?
The radical of 铭 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 铭 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 铭?
The traditional form of 铭 is 銘. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 铭 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 铭 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 铭 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 座右铭 literally mean?
座右铭 (zuòyòumíng) literally means an inscription on the right side of one's seat. It refers to a personal motto you keep in front of you as a reminder.
Can 铭 be used by itself as a verb?
In modern speech 铭 is rarely used alone. People use words like 铭记 or 铭刻 (míngkè), or the general verb 刻 (kè) to carve.