The word **名言 (míngyán)** is formed through the combination of two morphemes: **名 (míng)**, meaning "famous" or "well-known," and **言 (yán)**, meaning "words" or "speech." It follows a modifier-modified grammatical structure, where the first character **名** describes the quality of the second character **言**, literally creating the meaning "famous words." This compound noun has lexicalized over time to specifically refer to celebrated, insightful, or authoritative quotations, such as those from philosophers, proverbs, or historical figures, capturing the essence of a memorable and impactful statement.