移民

• Pinyin: yí mín
• Hanzi breakdown: 移 = 禾 (grain, phonetic-semantic component) + 多 (many, phonetic component), to move or shift; 民 = pictograph originally depicting a person, meaning common people

Meaning

To emigrate or immigrate; an immigrant or emigrant. Refers to the act of permanently moving to another country, or to a person who has done so.

Used both as a verb (to move to another country) and as a noun (a person who has moved). 移民国外 means to emigrate abroad. 非法移民 refers to illegal immigrants. The word covers both leaving one's home country and settling in a new one, with meaning determined by context.

Examples

1. 他们一家人决定移民到加拿大，开始新的生活。 The whole family decided to emigrate to Canada and start a new life.
2. 这座城市有很多来自不同国家的移民。 This city has many immigrants from different countries.
3. 越来越多的年轻人考虑移民海外寻求更好的机会。 More and more young people are considering emigrating abroad to seek better opportunities.

Usage Guide

Context: society, politics, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他已经拿到了移民签证。(He has already obtained an immigration visa.)
• 很多移民在新的国家努力工作，建设美好生活。(Many immigrants work hard in their new country to build a better life.)

Don't Say

• 说'他移民到了另一个省'来表示国内搬迁 (Don't use 移民 when describing a move within the same country — use 搬家 or 迁居; 移民 specifically refers to relocating to a different country)

Origin & History

A compound of 移 (to move or shift) and 民 (people; civilian). The compound describes the permanent movement of people from one country to another.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal