人士

• Pinyin: rén shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 人 = pictograph of person; 士 = pictograph of scholar/warrior

Meaning

Person; personage; figure. A person of a particular type or from a particular field.

Used with modifiers: 专业人士 (professional), 知名人士 (celebrity/notable person), 各界人士 (people from all walks of life), 爱国人士 (patriot). More formal than 人.

Examples

1. 这次会议邀请了各界人士参加。 This conference invited people from all walks of life.
2. 专业人士认为这项技术很有前景。 Professionals believe this technology has great prospects.
3. 社会各界人士纷纷捐款帮助灾区。 People from all sectors of society donated to help the disaster area.

Usage Guide

Context: news, official, professional

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 据知情人士透露。(According to informed sources.)
• 业内人士分析。(Industry insiders analyze.)

Don't Say

• 我是一个人士。(人士 requires a modifier — just say 我是...专业/行业的人)

Origin & History

人 (rén, person) + 士 (shì, scholar/gentleman). A person of note or distinction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal