Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
Example phrases
他默默无闻地在山村教了一辈子书。Tā mòmòwúwén de zài shāncūn jiāo le yí bèizi shū.He taught in a mountain village all his life, unknown to the world.
这位工人默默无闻,却把工厂的机器维护得很好。Zhè wèi gōngrén mòmòwúwén, què bǎ gōngchǎng de jīqì wéihù de hěn hǎo.This worker is unknown, yet he keeps the factory's machines in great shape.
很多默默无闻的志愿者在雨中帮大家搬东西。Hěn duō mòmòwúwén de zhìyuànzhě zài yǔ zhōng bāng dàjiā bān dōngxi.Many unsung volunteers helped everyone carry things in the rain.