名额
míngé · HSK 6
number of people allowed
📋 name + amount = how many names the list allows
额 alone means amount or quota. So 名额 is literally the amount of names — the number of slots or spots available for people.
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.