‘污名’ (wū míng) literally combines ‘污’ (wū), meaning ‘dirty’, ‘stained’, or ‘tainted’, and ‘名’ (míng), meaning ‘name’ or ‘reputation’. Together, they form a compound noun meaning ‘infamy’ or ‘stigma’ — the negative social label attached to a person, group, or concept due to perceived moral failure, illness, difference, or misfortune. It emphasizes how reputation is tarnished in the eyes of others, not merely personal shame.

This word is commonly used in formal, academic, or media contexts — especially when discussing mental health, disease (e.g., HIV/AIDS), social marginalization, or historical injustice. Unlike the more neutral ‘名声’ (shēngmíng, ‘reputation’) or the purely negative ‘恶名’ (èmíng, ‘notoriety’), ‘污名’ carries sociological weight, highlighting collective judgment and systemic discrimination rather than individual wrongdoing.