姓名
xìngmíng · HSK 2
name
📛 姓名 = 姓 (surname) + 名 (given name)
姓 combines 女 (woman) + 生 (birth), reflecting ancient matrilineal clan names. 名 combines 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth) — in the dark you spoke your name aloud so others knew who you were.
姓 — woman radical 女 + life 生
姓 combines 女 (woman) with 生 (birth/life), reflecting ancient China's matrilineal clans where surnames passed through the mother's line. Many of the oldest Chinese surnames contain 女, such as 姜 and 姚. Today 姓 simply means 'family name' or 'surname'.
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.