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名を馳せる (なをはせる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
win fame ; make a name for oneself ; become widely known
Used when someone gains recognition or renown, often through notable achievements. The verb 馳せる means 'to gallop' or 'to make run', giving a sense of spreading one's name far and wide.
若わか く し て 名な を 馳は せ た 作さっ 家か は 、 今いま も 精せい 力りょく 的てき に 活かつ 動どう し て いる 。
The writer who made a name for himself at a young age is still active today.
Kanji 名 name, noted, distinguished Similar words 有ゆう 名めい になる A more general and colloquial way to say 'become famous'. 名を馳せる is more literary and emphasizes the process of spreading one's reputation.
名な を 上あ げる Also means 'to gain fame', but 名を馳せる carries a stronger nuance of widespread recognition, often beyond a local or limited scope.
Etymology The expression combines 名 (name) with 馳せる (to gallop, to make run), literally 'to make one's name gallop', i.e., to spread one's reputation far and wide. The verb 馳せる is an older literary form; the phrase is idiomatic and not decomposable into productive modern patterns.
