人民

• Pinyin: rén mín
• Hanzi breakdown: 人 = pictograph of a standing person; 民 = pictograph of a person with downcast eyes, representing the common people

Meaning

The people; citizens; the populace. A formal term for the citizens of a nation collectively.

A formal and political term used frequently in government, law, and news. Appears in many official terms: 人民政府 (people's government), 人民法院 (people's court), 人民币 (the people's currency). More formal than 老百姓 (common folk) and carries a civic or political tone. Very common in Chinese public discourse.

Examples

1. 人民的利益是最重要的。 The people's interests are the most important thing.
2. 这座大桥是人民用双手建造的。 This great bridge was built by the people with their own hands.
3. 他一辈子都在为人民服务。 He spent his whole life serving the people.

Usage Guide

Context: government, news, politics, patriotism

Tone: solemn

Do Say

• 为人民服务是我们的职责。(Serving the people is our duty.)
• 人民的生活水平不断提高。(The people's standard of living keeps improving.)

Don't Say

• 我和几个人民去吃饭了。(Never use 人民 for a few individual people — it's a collective political term. Say 我和几个朋友 or 几个人.)

Origin & History

人 means person; 民 means the populace or common people (originally depicted people with eyes cast downward — the masses, as opposed to rulers). Together they form a term for the collective citizenry.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal