‘Míng piàn’ literally combines ‘míng’ (name) and ‘piàn’ (card or sheet), meaning a small printed card that displays a person’s name, title, company, and contact information. It is used primarily in professional and formal social settings in Chinese-speaking contexts — for example, when meeting new business partners, attending conferences, or networking events. Unlike Western practices, exchanging名片 often follows specific etiquette: it is customary to present and receive the card with both hands and to take a moment to read it respectfully before putting it away.

The word is exclusively used for business or official identification cards — not for personal calling cards, visiting cards of non-professional nature, or digital contact sharing. While paper名片 remain standard, some professionals now also share QR-coded digital versions via WeChat. The term carries no emotional connotation and is neutral in register, appropriate for all levels of formality in work-related communication.