The word 名气 (míngqi), meaning "fame" or "reputation", is a compound formed through a conceptual metaphor. It combines the character 名 (míng), which means "name", with 气 (qì), which denotes "air", "breath", or "energetic atmosphere". Literally, it suggests "the air of a name", implying how a person's name or renown permeates and circulates within public awareness, much like an invisible yet palpable atmosphere. This formation reflects a common pattern in Chinese where an abstract quality (fame) is expressed through a tangible, poetic combination of concrete elements.