商人

• Pinyin: shāng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 商 = originally related to the Shang Dynasty and commerce; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Businessman; merchant; trader. A person who engages in commerce or business.

A general term for someone who does business or trade. Can refer to small shopkeepers or large business owners alike. In modern usage, 生意人 is a more colloquial alternative, while 企业家 (entrepreneur) is used for larger-scale business leaders. Historically, merchants were ranked low in Chinese social hierarchy.

Examples

1. 他是一个很有钱的商人。 He is a very wealthy businessman.
2. 这条街上有很多商人在卖东西。 There are many merchants selling things on this street.
3. 她的爸爸是做水果生意的商人。 Her father is a merchant who deals in fruit.

Usage Guide

Context: business, economy, descriptions

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他是一个成功的商人。(He is a successful businessman.)
• 商人们都在讨论新的计划。(The businesspeople are all discussing the new plan.)

Don't Say

• 不要用商人来形容专业人士 (Don't call a doctor or teacher a 商人 — it specifically means someone in commerce; for professionals use their title like 医生 or 老师)

Origin & History

商 (shāng, commerce) + 人 (rén, person). 商 originates from the Shang Dynasty, whose people were known for trading, and the character became associated with commerce.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal