The word 名誉 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core concept to create a unified meaning. The first character, 名 (míng), originally meant "name" and by extension signifies one's public standing or reputation. The second, 誉 (yù), means "praise" or "honor". Together, they fuse the idea of one's social name or standing with the quality of being praised, resulting in the compound meaning of "honor", "prestige", or "good reputation". It is a conceptual synthesis where the two parts merge to express an abstract notion of esteem.