指名道姓 (zhǐmíngdàoxìng): to name names; to call someone out by name

Meanings

1 to name names; to call someone out by name
2 to refer to someone explicitly rather than indirectly

Characters

指

Examples

他没有指名道姓，但大家都知道他在说谁。

Tā méiyǒu zhǐmíngdàoxìng, dàn dàjiā dōu zhīdào tā zài shuō shéi.

He didn't name names, but everyone knew who he was talking about.

报道指名道姓地批评了几位官员。

Bàodào zhǐmíngdàoxìng de pīpíng le jǐ wèi guānyuán.

The report criticized several officials by name.

Tips

usage

Often appears in negative form (没有/不便指名道姓) when speakers want to gesture at someone without naming them, or in positive form for pointed criticism.

Stroke Order

指 zhǐ

名 míng

道 dào

姓 xìng

Related Words

姓名 xìngmíng HSK 2 #4,042

full name

隐姓埋名 yǐnxìngmáimíng #18,125

to conceal one's identity / to live incognito

真名 zhēnmíng #4,995

real name / true name

名牌 míngpái #8,790

famous brand; name brand / name tag; name plate

取名 qǔmíng #9,276

to name; to give a name to / to choose a name

指出 zhǐchū HSK 3 #4,579

to point out / to indicate; to state

指 zhǐ HSK 3 #580

finger / to point at; to point to / to indicate; to refer to

知名 zhīmíng HSK 6 #5,564

well-known; famous; renowned

名下 míngxià #8,213

under someone's name; registered to someone / in the name of

大名 dàmíng #9,183

one's formal name / great reputation; famous name