名めい著ちょ

め

い

ちょ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

famous book; masterpiece

Refers to a book or literary work widely recognized as outstanding or historically important.

この小しょう説せつは日本にほん文ぶん学がくの名めい著ちょの一ひとつだ。
This novel is one of the masterpieces of Japanese literature.
夏なつ休やすみに世せ界かいの名めい著ちょを読よもうと思おもう。
I plan to read some of the world's great books during summer vacation.

See all 8 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈分ぶん野や〉の名めい著ちょa classic/famous book in a given field
この本ほんは経けい済ざい学がくの名めい著ちょとして知しられている。
This book is known as a classic work in economics.
名めい著ちょと呼よばれるto be called/regarded as a great book
その小しょう説せつは今いまでも名めい著ちょと呼よばれている。
That novel is still called a great work today.
名めい著ちょに挙あげられるto be listed/cited among the great books
この本ほんは世せ界かいの名めい著ちょにしばしば挙あげられる。
This book is often cited among the world's great works.

Kanji

名name, noted, distinguished
著renowned, publish, write

Related words

名めい作さくN3
名著 refers specifically to an outstanding book or written work, while 名作 covers masterpieces in any art form such as film or painting.
傑けっ作さくN2
名著 emphasizes a book's lasting intellectual or literary importance, whereas 傑作 simply praises any work (book, art, film) as exceptionally well-made.
古こ典てんN2
名著 highlights a book's outstanding quality or influence, whereas 古典 emphasizes its long-standing, historically enduring status.

Don't confuse with

著ちょ名めいN1
名著 (a famous/great book) and 著名 (well-known, said of people or things) use the same two kanji in reverse order, so they are easy to mix up despite meaning different things.

Counted with

冊さつN1
For bound volumes — books, magazines, notebooks.
部ぶN2
Used when referring to copies of a book or publication; 冊 is the ordinary counter for physical books.

Etymology

Compound of 名 (famous, excellent) and 著 (writing, book). The reading めいちょ is the on'yomi of both characters.