Many common nouns in English have evolved from proper nouns. This process is called renaming in lexicon, that is, the original reference of a word as a proper noun becomes the reference of a common noun. Proper nouns converted into common nouns can be divided into the following categories:

1. Local proper nouns

Rugby was originally a British place name, where there was a school called Rugby School. Famous for playing rugby. Later, the lowercase rugby is used to refer to "rugby" or "rugby play".

Copper originated from Cyprus, which is famous for its copper production.

Many product names in English were originally the names of places of origin. For example, java comes from the Indonesian place name Java (Java Island), which means "Java coffee"; cologne comes from the West German city Cologne, which means "cologne perfume"; bourbon comes from Bourbon, Kentucky, USA, which means "a strong whiskey". Other common words that have been converted from local proper nouns into common nouns are as follows:

China China china porcelain

ollywood Hollywood (the center of the American film industry; part of Los Angeles)

hollywood (Hollywood-produced) American films; American film industry; American film industry

Mecca (a pilgrimage site for Muslims, in western Saudi Arabia)

mecca is a place of pilgrimage; a place you long to go; a goal you yearn for.

nankeen (a kind of strong and durable) natural color cloth (originally produced in Nanjing, my country)

Panama Panama (city)

panama Panama (style) straw hat

Shanghai Shanghai

shanghai (produced in Shanghai) Pudong Chicken

White House White House; US Government

Russia Russia

russia Russian leather (Sussia leather)

Scotch Scotland (people)

scotch Scotch whiskey

Waterloo Waterloo (Belgian town) (Napoleon in 1815 The place where the army was defeated)

waterloo a tragic defeat; a fatal blow; a decisive setback

Japan Japan

japan Japanese lacquer; (general name) Japanese porcelain

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor (US military port); (like Pearl Harbor document) sneak attack

Broadway Broadway (one of the main streets in New York City, USA, because many theaters and nightclubs are located here) The story uses the street name to represent "American theater industry", "New York entertainment industry", "New York nightlife", etc.)

2. Proper nouns of people's names

(1) Originally an inventor The name is converted into the name of the invention.

Watt (watt) comes from the British scientist James watt; volt (volt) comes from the Italian scientist

Alessandro Vota; ohm (ohm) comes from the German scientist Georg Ohm; ampere (ampere) ) comes from the French scientist Andre Ampere; hertz (Hertz) comes from the German physicist H.R Hertz; pasteurize (disinfect or sterilize...) comes from the famous French chemist biologist Louis Pasteur.

(2) A person became famous for initiating or discovering something, and later turned into a common noun

Sandwich (sandwich) originated from the Earl of Sandwich, who was originally a gambler. It is said that in order to save time while gambling, he asked a servant to cut bread for him and put a piece of meat on it to satisfy his hunger. This is how the word sandwich got its name.

3) Famous characters in novels or other written works are referred to ordinary people because of their obvious character traits.

Friday originated from the name of Robinson Crusoe's servant in the British novel "Robinson Crusoe", and now refers to "loyal servant". Quixote was originally the protagonist in the novel "Don Quixote" written by Spanish writer Cervantes. Now it refers to a "Don Quixote-like person", an "idealist full of childish ideas", a "fanatic and narrow sense". people". Shylock is a ruthless Jew who specializes in loan sharking in Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice". It is now metaphorically referred to as a "blackmail moneylender" and a "ruthless (businessman)". Uncle Tom is the protagonist in the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published by American female writer Mrs. Stowe in 1852. It is now used as a "submissive black person", while Uncle Tomism refers to "(black people's) resignation". Crusoe is the protagonist in the novel Robinson Grasoe by British writer Defoe. Now it refers to "a person who drifts to an uninhabited island like Robinson Crusoe" and a "lonely person". Don Juan was originally a Spanish legendary figure, a licentious aristocrat who specialized in playing with women. This figure often appears in the West when he signs the Declaration of Independence. Now this word is used to refer to "autograph" in poetry and drama. Metaphorically referring to "a person who plays with women", the "romaniac" Romeo is a character in Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet", and now refers to a "man in love"

(4) The names of politicians and politicians

Nicotine (nicotine) comes from the name of a French diplomat, Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco leaves to France in the 16th century. John Hancok (1773-1793) was an American revolutionary leader. He was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence, a term now used to refer to "autograph." The word quisling (traitor, leader of the puppet government) originated from Quisling, the leader of the Norwegian fascists. He colluded with the German fascists during World War II and became the leader of the puppet regime after the Nazi occupation. McCarthyism originated from the U.S. Senator J.R.McCarthy (1909-1957), and refers to "the reactionary proposition of using fascist means to persecute American democratic and progressive forces", also known as "McCarthyism".

(5) Names of figures in religions, myths, etc.

Somson (Samson) is a character in the Christian Bible. He is famous for his physical strength and is now used to refer to "Hercules" ". Titan is a member of the giant race among Greek gods who are said to have ruled the world. Nowadays, the lowercase titan is used to refer to "giant" and "giant thing". Venus is the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology, now used to refer to "beauty". Diana is the goddess of the moon and hunting in Roman mythology, now referred to as "moon" or "huntress".

Hercules (Hercules) is the "Hercules" in Greek and Roman mythology. He is the son of the main god Zeus. He is extremely powerful and has completed twelve heroic deeds. The lower case hercules means "Hercules, giant." Nestor (inside) Nestor is a wise veteran of Greece during the Trojan War. Nestor refers to "an old and wise leader (in a certain industry or field)" or "a wise old man". Oedipus comes from Greek mythology. This is the prince of Thebes who solved the riddle of the monster Sphinx. Later, he accidentally killed his father and married his mother. When he was discovered, he stabbed himself in the eyes and died of wandering. Now it can be used to refer to "mystery solver". The Oedipus complex refers to the "Oedipus complex" in psychology. Apollo is the god in Greek mythology in charge of light, youth, poetry, medicine, animal husbandry, etc. It is said to be the sun god. Nowadays in poetry it refers to "sun" or "young handsome man".

(6) Other proper nouns

Platonic comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, and refers to "theoretical", "ideal" or "purely spiritual" ". Platonic love or platonism refers to "spiritual love". Solomon (Solomon) was the son of King David of the Kingdom of Israel. He was known for his wisdom and now refers to a "wise man" or a "wise man". Tom Thumb is a dwarf in British fairy tales, which now refers to "a short person or (plant)".

3. Proper nouns in book or movie or TV titles

Many common names in English are derived from book or movie titles.

Asphalt jungle was originally the name of an American film, and now refers to a big city or a specific area of ??a big city. Godfather was originally the title of a novel written by Mario Puzo in 1969, and now refers to the leader of the Mafia or other secret criminal organizations. Utopia ("Utopia") was originally the name of a novel written by British writer Tomas More, and now refers to "Utopia" or "Utopia".

4. Proper nouns for trademarks

Many trademarks in English are often used by people to refer to their products because they are familiar to everyone. Common ones include Kodak (Kodak camera), Xerox (electrostatic copying method, electrostatic copier), Ford (Ford brand car), Vaseline (Vaseline petrolatum), Coco-cola (Coca-Cola beverage), Pepsi-cola (Pepsi-Cola beverage), etc. The trademarked nouns also have derivatives, such as xeroxer and xeroxable. In addition, some trademark nouns can also be used as adjectives. For example, Micky Mouse refers to "small", "small size" and "petty" (petty).

5. Other proper nouns

In addition to the proper nouns mentioned above, there are also many common nouns in English that are transformed from other proper nouns. Mafia (Mafia) is a secret criminal organization in Sicily, Italy and the United States. Mafia refers to a "secret group of political terrorists" or "a secret criminal organization (global engaged in illegal activities such as drug trafficking)." Marathon refers to a marathon running with a total length of 42.195 kilometers. The lower case marathon refers to "a long-distance race (swimming, skating, etc.)". Nazi is a member of the German National Socialist Party (Nazi), and nazi means "fascist". Oscar was originally the Academy Award in the American film industry, and now it means "award" or "medal". Paradise originates from Paradise in religion. Protestant originally refers to the Protestant princes who protested against the Catholic princes in the German Parliament in 1952. Now the lowercase portestant is used to mean "protester" or "dissident". Disneyland (Wonderful Fantasy) originated from the amusement park built by American cartoonist Walt Disney near Los Angeles.

October means "wine brewed in October". Olympus (Mount Olympus) is the residence of the Greek gods, and is now a metaphor for "heaven" and "heaven". Renaissance is the literary revival in Europe from the 14th to the 16th century. It now refers to the revival of literature and art (or literature, art, and academics). The lower case Renaissance can also mean "new life", "resurrection" and "revival".