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亻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
rénman, person; peoplezg, 2 strokes, radical 亻, rank #78329, Very Hard
rén"person" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 9)unknown, 2 strokes, radical 亻, rank #78329, Very Hard
rén(ren2) T2
  1. 1man, person; people
  2. 2"person" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 9)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
rén(ren2)

The character 亻 (rén) represents the concept of 'man' or 'person' and serves as a radical in many Chinese characters. It is commonly used to denote human-related concepts and is a key component in understanding the meaning of other characters that involve people.

Strokes2RadicalFrequency#78329DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'person' or 'people' is foundational, reflecting the importance of community and social relationships in Chinese society. The character 亻 is often seen in terms that describe social roles or family, showcasing the value placed on interpersonal connections.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing with one leg slightly bent, resembling the character 亻. The shape can remind you of a human figure, and the pronunciation 'rén' sounds like 'run,' as if the person is about to run.

Meanings of 亻

rén(ren2)
1man, person; people
2"person" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 9)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 亻

Simplified
2Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 亻

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AI Study Notes for 亻

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person standing with one leg slightly bent, resembling the character 亻. The shape can remind you of a human figure, and the pronunciation 'rén' sounds like 'run,' as if the person is about to run.

Usage Notes

When using 亻 as a radical, it is important to understand its presence in other characters, such as 你 (nǐ, you) or 他 (tā, he). Students should also be cautious with the tone, as 'rén' is pronounced with a rising tone, which can change meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Although 亻 itself is not an HSK vocabulary word, it appears in many HSK-level characters. Focus on how it combines with other components to form words and practice recognizing it in various contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'person' or 'people' is foundational, reflecting the importance of community and social relationships in Chinese society. The character 亻 is often seen in terms that describe social roles or family, showcasing the value placed on interpersonal connections.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 亻 with similar sounding words, leading to miscommunication. For instance, saying 'ren' instead of 'rén' can change the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 亻

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Etymology of 亻

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

亻 is a component form of 人.

Memory Hint

Visual abbreviation of 人

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 亻?

Write 亻

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Cultural Notes for 亻

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'person' or 'people' is foundational, reflecting the importance of community and social relationships in Chinese society. The character 亻 is often seen in terms that describe social roles or family, showcasing the value placed on interpersonal connections.

Word Family of 亻

Words Containing This Character1
rén"person" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 9)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 亻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 亻

亻 represents 'person' or 'man' and is primarily used as a radical in other characters.