举世闻名
jǔ shì wén míng
World famous · trad. 舉世聞名
Describes something or someone whose fame extends across the entire globe. It emphasizes widespread recognition and high renown, indicating that the subject is known to people everywhere.
What does 举世闻名 (jǔ shì wén míng) mean?
举世闻名 (jǔ shì wén míng) means "world famous" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "name heard throughout the world."
Character by character
- 举 jǔ lift, raise
- 世 shì world
- 闻 wén hear, known
- 名 míng name, reputation
When to use it
Refers to people, places, or things that have achieved a very high level of fame and are recognized internationally. It is a formal and laudatory expression, suitable for describing significant achievements, landmarks, or individuals with global impact.
Example
中国的万里长城是举世闻名的伟大建筑。
Zhōngguó de wànlǐchángchéng shì jǔ shì wén míng de wěidà jiànzhù.
The Great Wall of China is a world-renowned magnificent architectural feat.
Pro tip: The character 举 (jǔ) here means 'the whole' or 'all of', so 举世 (jǔ shì) literally means 'the whole world'. This emphasizes that the fame is not just widespread, but truly global, distinguishing it from merely being 'famous' within a region or country.
Related idioms
筋疲力尽 · Physical exhaustion精打细算 · Meticulous planning and budgeting举手之劳 · Small effort task
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