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實至名歸

简实至名归 · 繁實至名歸

Mandarin · pinyin shí zhì míng guī

fame follows merit (idiom)

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Characters in this entry

實: shí · real, true, solid, honest
至: zhì · reach, arrive; extremely, very; Kangxi radical 133
名: míng · name, rank, title, position
歸: Look up this written character
实: shí · real, true; honest, sincere
归: guī · return; return to, revert to

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–4–2–1 · shi2 zhi4 ming2 gui1

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

實至名歸 · find source passages ↗ · 实至名归 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

sat6 zi3 ming4 gwai1

Cantonese word readings for 實至名歸. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) fame follows merit; to live up to one's reputation; to deserve one's fame

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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