男人

• Pinyin: nán rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 男 = 田 (field) + 力 (strength); 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Man; male adult. Refers to an adult male person.

The standard word for an adult male. The female counterpart is 女人 (woman). Can carry different connotations depending on context — neutral in most cases, but sometimes used to discuss gender roles or qualities.

Examples

1. 那个男人是我爸爸。 That man is my father.
2. 这里有很多男人和女人。 There are many men and women here.
3. 他是一个好男人。 He is a good man.

Usage Guide

Context: description, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 那个男人很高。(That man is very tall.)
• 男人和女人都应该平等。(Men and women should be equal.)

Don't Say

• 用男人称呼小男孩。(Don't call a young boy 男人 — use 男孩儿 for children; 男人 is for adults)

Origin & History

A compound of 男 (male) and 人 (person), literally 'male person' — a man.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal