名利
mínglì · HSK 7
fame and wealth
🏆💰 名利 = 名 fame/name + 利 profit/gain → fame and wealth
名 is the same character as in 名字 (name) and 利 means profit, as in 利益 (benefit). Stack them and you get the two things people chase: a big name and a fat purse.
名 — evening 夕 + mouth 口
A compound ideograph: in the dark of evening (夕), one cannot recognize others by sight, so the mouth (口) calls out a name to identify oneself. The original sense of 'name' broadened to include reputation, fame, and a measure word for people.
利 — grain 禾 + knife 刂
Originally a pictograph showing a knife (刂) cutting grain (禾), depicting harvest. From the idea of a sharp blade reaping crops, it extended to mean 'sharp,' then 'benefit,' 'profit,' or 'advantage' — the gain that comes from a successful harvest.