远近闻名

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yuǎn jìn wén míng
• English Translation: Famous far and wide (well-known near and far)
• Idiom Composition: 「远」（Far or distant places）＋「近」（Near or nearby places）＋「闻」（To be heard of or to be known）＋「名」（Name, reputation, or fame）
• Meaning: To be known in both distant and nearby places. It describes a state where a reputation, person, or object has become highly famous across a broad geographical area, typically in a positive context.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「远近闻名」 contains the following nuances:

• Geographical Breadth: As the characters 远 (yuǎn) and 近 (jìn) suggest, this idiom emphasizes that fame is not just local; it has crossed distances to reach people everywhere.
• Objective Popularity: Rather than focusing on a subjective opinion, this expression focuses on the objective fact of high visibility and public recognition.

3. Usage

「远近闻名」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Places and Tourist Attractions: Used to explain that a city, village, or scenic spot is widely recognized.
  • Example:「这座古镇以其独特的建筑风格远近闻名，每年吸引大量游客。」
    （This ancient town is famous far and wide for its unique architectural style, attracting a large number of tourists every year.）
• Local Specialties and Products: Describes food or crafts from a specific region that are famous even outside that area.
  • Example:「这里的茶叶品质优良，早已远近闻名。」
    （The tea here is of excellent quality and has long been well-known near and far.）
• Reputation of Individuals: Used when the skills or virtues of a doctor, craftsman, or artist are widely celebrated.
  • Example:「他是一位远近闻名的老中医，很多人慕名前来求医。」
    （He is a widely renowned veteran doctor of Chinese medicine, and many people come from afar to seek his treatment.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这家餐厅的烤鸭远近闻名，去晚了根本没有座位。
   （The Peking duck at this restaurant is famous far and wide; if you go late, there won't be any seats left.）
2. 经过几年的努力，这所学校已经成为远近闻名的重点中学。
   （After years of hard work, this school has become a well-known key secondary school.）
3. 那个村子因为长寿老人很多而远近闻名。
   （That village is known everywhere for having many long-lived elderly residents.）
4. 他的孝顺在十里八乡是远近闻名的。
   （His filial piety is famous far and wide throughout the surrounding villages.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Structural Logic: The pairing of 远近 (yuǎn jìn), meaning 'far and near,' is a common Chinese linguistic device where antonyms are combined to represent 'everywhere' or 'the whole.' Similar examples include 左右 (zuǒ yòu) for 'around' or 大小 (dà xiǎo) for 'size.'
• Register: This is a very common, neutral-to-positive expression. It is suitable for both spoken and written Chinese but carries a slightly formal tone often found in introductory texts or journalism.
• Scale of Fame: While it implies significant fame, it is usually used for regional or national recognition. For global fame, the idiom 举世闻名 (jǔ shì wén míng), meaning 'world-famous,' is more appropriate.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 闻名遐迩 (wén míng xiá ěr): A more literary and formal version of the same concept; 遐迩 (xiá ěr) is a classical way to say 'far and near.'
  • 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo): Literally 'known to every household'; implies something is so famous that everyone knows about it.link
  • 举世闻名 (jǔ shì wén míng): Known to the whole world.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 默默无闻 (mò mò wú wén): To be obscure and unknown to the public.link
  • 鲜为人知 (xiǎn wéi rén zhī): Rarely known by people; a state of being very little known.
  • 不为人知 (bù wéi rén zhī): Not known by others.link

6. Summary

远近闻名 (yuǎn jìn wén míng) is a versatile idiom used to describe places, products, or individuals with widespread fame. Literally meaning "known far and near," it is frequently used in travel descriptions or when introducing local specialties to emphasize that their reputation has spread well beyond their immediate location.