Meanings of 人
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About 人
Podcast: 人
Podcast: 人
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AI Study Notes for 人
个 (gè) — use '人' when referring specifically to a person or people, while '个' is a measure word for counting nouns.
'人' is often used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile. Common collocations include '人们' (rénmen, people) and '一个人' (yī gè rén, one person). Be careful with the tone; '人' must be pronounced with a rising tone 'rén' to avoid confusion with other characters.
As an HSK Level 1 word, '人' is foundational for learners. It connects well with other basic vocabulary about family, occupation, and social interactions. Students should focus on recognizing and using this character in simple sentences.
Learners often confuse '人' with '仁' (rén), which means benevolence. For example, using '仁' when referring to a person is incorrect; the correct character is '人'.
Pronunciation of 人
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Etymology of 人
Pictograph of the side view of a person.
The legs of a human being
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 人
Pictograph of the side view of a person.
- 1The giveawayThe legs of a human being
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 人? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 人?
How to say man in Chinese
“man” in Chinese is人
The character '人' (rén) means 'person' or 'people' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to an individual or a group of individuals and is fundamental in various social contexts. This character also serves as a radical in many other characters related to humanity or human actions.
When to use 人
'人' is often used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile. Common collocations include '人们' (rénmen, people) and '一个人' (yī gè rén, one person). Be careful with the tone; '人' must be pronounced with a rising tone 'rén' to avoid confusion with other characters.
人 or something close to it
个 (gè) — use '人' when referring specifically to a person or people, while '个' is a measure word for counting nouns.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '人' with '仁' (rén), which means benevolence. For example, using '仁' when referring to a person is incorrect; the correct character is '人'.
Write 人
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Practice writing 人 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 人
人 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
车上有多少个____？
How many people are on the bus?
Common Confusions with 人
Similar in shape and pronunciation, but different meanings.
Similar in sound but has a different meaning.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "man"?
Example Sentences for 人 (15)
Cultural Notes for 人
The character '人' represents a person and is depicted as two legs. In ancient times, it symbolized the movement of humans, emphasizing the importance of individuals in society.
In many cultures, the concept of '人' is fundamental. For instance, in Western cultures, 'human rights' emphasize the dignity and worth of each person, similar to the value placed on individuals in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 人
Compound Meaning
What does 个 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 人
Some common phrases that include 人 (rén) are '人们' (rénmen), which means 'people' or 'the public,' and '人际关系' (rénjì guānxì), meaning 'interpersonal relationships.' These phrases illustrate how the character is used in everyday conversation.
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