人物

• Pinyin: rén wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 人 = pictograph of person; 物 = 牛 (cow) + 勿, thing/being

Meaning

Character; figure; personage. A person in a story, history, or of importance.

In stories: 主要人物 (main character), 人物形象 (character portrayal). Historical: 历史人物 (historical figure). Also: 大人物 (big shot), 小人物 (nobody), 人物传记 (biography).

Examples

1. 这部小说里的人物形象非常鲜明。 The characters in this novel are very vivid.
2. 他是这个时代最有影响力的人物之一。 He is one of the most influential figures of this era.
3. 电影根据真实人物改编。 The movie is adapted from a real person.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, history, media

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 你最喜欢哪个人物？(Which character do you like most?)
• 他是个重要人物。(He's an important figure.)

Don't Say

• 我认识这个人物。(For real people you know, use 人 — 人物 implies characters or notable figures)

Origin & History

人 (rén, person) + 物 (wù, thing/being). A person as a subject/entity.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal