名垂青史

míngchuíqīngshǐ

idiom #31,072

Meanings

1 to go down in history
2 to leave one's name in the annals
3 to achieve eternal fame

Characters

name; reputation

green; (bamboo)

Examples

岳飞精忠报国，名垂青史。

Yuè Fēi jīngzhōng bàoguó, míngchuíqīngshǐ.

Yue Fei served his country with utmost loyalty and his name is recorded forever in history.

这位科学家的发现让她名垂青史。

Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā de fāxiàn ràng tā míngchuíqīngshǐ.

This scientist's discovery secured her a place in history.

Tips

history

青史 ('green history') refers to ancient bamboo strips used for record-keeping — fresh bamboo is green, and it had to be roasted (杀青) to dry it before writing. The phrase echoes Du Fu's 杜甫 line 古人日以远，青史字不泯 ('ancients fade by the day, but on the green chronicles their characters do not perish').

Stroke Order

名 míng

垂 chuí

青 qīng

史 shǐ