铭 míng — inscription · English

铭

míng

inscription

At a glance · 铭

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从金名声，形声字，本指刻铸于钟鼎的文辞。隶楷作「銘」，简化作「铭」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「铭」本指器物上的刻文，引申为牢记。

Structure

形声字，金为意符，名为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinmíng

Radical钅

Strokes11

UnicodeU+94ED

Character type形声

Theme礼乐

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English inscription An inscription on metal/stone; to remember.

Français inscription Une inscription sur métal/pierre; se souvenir.

Español inscripción Una inscripción en metal/piedra; recordar.

العربية نقش، كتابة نقش على الآنية أو التذكر.

Русский надпись Надпись на металле/камне; помнить.

Common words

铭mínginscription
铭文míng wéninscription

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