行人

• Pinyin: xíng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 行 = pictograph of a crossroads, meaning 'to walk/travel'; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Pedestrian. A person walking on foot, especially on a road or sidewalk.

行人 is a formal term commonly seen on road signs and in traffic rules. It is used more in written language and official contexts than in casual speech, where people might simply say 走路的人. Related words include 路人 (passerby) and 人行道 (sidewalk).

Examples

1. 开车的时候要注意行人。 When driving, you need to watch out for pedestrians.
2. 这条路上行人很多。 There are many pedestrians on this road.
3. 红灯的时候，行人不能过马路。 When the light is red, pedestrians cannot cross the road.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, urban life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 行人请走人行道。(Pedestrians, please use the sidewalk.)
• 司机要让行人先过。(Drivers should let pedestrians go first.)

Don't Say

• 我是一个行人，我在公园散步 (行人 specifically refers to people walking on roads — for walking in a park, just say 我在公园散步)

Origin & History

行 means 'to walk' or 'to travel,' and 人 means 'person.' Together they literally mean 'walking person' — a pedestrian.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal