Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

著名 (ちょめい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

著ちょ名めい

ちょ

め

い

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

famous; noted; eminent

Used for people, works, and institutions that are widely known and respected. Slightly formal; common in news and written contexts.

彼かれは著

ちょ

名めい

な

作さっ

家か

と

し

て

知し

ら

れ

て

いる

。

He is known as a famous writer.

この美び術じゅつ館かんには著ちょ名めいな絵かい画がが多た数すう展てん示じされている。

Many famous paintings are exhibited in this museum.

Usage patterns

著ちょ名めいな〈人ひと〉a renowned (person, e.g. scholar, writer)
彼かれは著ちょ名めいな物ぶつ理り学がく者しゃだ。
He is a renowned physicist.
〈事こと〉で著ちょ名めいだto be famous for something
この町まちは温おん泉せんで著ちょ名めいだ。
This town is famous for its hot springs.
著ちょ名めいな〈物もの〉a well-known (institution, work, brand, etc.)
彼かの女じょは著ちょ名めいな大だい学がくを卒そつ業ぎょうした。
She graduated from a prestigious university.

Kanji

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

Related words

有ゆう名めいN5
有名 is the everyday word for 'famous' used in casual speech, while 著名 is more formal and implies an established, respected reputation.
高こう名めいN1
高名 is similarly formal to 著名 but is typically reserved for scholars or people of high moral standing, whereas 著名 covers a broader range of famous people, works, and institutions.
名な高だかいN1
名高い is a literary i-adjective meaning 'renowned,' often used for places or historical figures, while 著名 is a na-adjective more common in formal news writing.
知ち名めい
著名 describes someone or something distinguished and widely recognized, often with more prestige than the more neutral 知名.
有ゆう数すうN1
著名 means 'famous' or 'well-known' and highlights public recognition, while 有数 stresses high standing relative to others in a field.

Opposites

無む名めいN1
無名 means 'unknown, obscure,' the direct opposite of 著名 which means 'famous, noted.'

Don't confuse with

名めい著ちょ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.
顕けん著ちょN1
著名 shares the kanji 著 with 顕著 but means 'famous, well-known', not 'noticeably remarkable in degree'.
著いちじるしいN2
著名 shares the kanji 著 with 著しい but means 'famous' or 'renowned', not 'striking in degree'.

Word family

著ちょ名めい人じんN2
celebrity; prominent figure; well-known person

Etymology

From Chinese 著名 (zhùmíng). The kanji 著 means 'notable' or 'written work', and 名 means 'name', together conveying 'name is noted'.