艺人

• Pinyin: yì rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 艺 = 艹 (grass) + 云 (cloud), simplified form meaning art; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Artist; performer; entertainer. A person who performs in entertainment or practices artistic skills.

Covers various performers: actors, singers, comedians, traditional artists. Common phrases: 民间艺人 (folk artist), 演艺圈艺人 (entertainment industry performer), 街头艺人 (street performer). More general than 演员 (actor) or 歌手 (singer).

Examples

1. 这位民间艺人已经从事皮影戏表演四十多年了。 This folk artist has been performing shadow puppetry for over forty years.
2. 很多年轻艺人都梦想登上春晚舞台。 Many young entertainers dream of performing on the Spring Festival Gala stage.
3. 街头艺人的表演吸引了大批观众。 The street performer's show attracted a large crowd.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, culture, media

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 他是一位很有才华的艺人。(He is a very talented artist.)
• 艺人的生活并不像看起来那么光鲜。(An entertainer's life isn't as glamorous as it seems.)

Don't Say

• 艺人画家 — 画家本身就是独立称呼，不需要加艺人

Origin & History

Compound of 艺 (art, skill) + 人 (person). Together meaning a person who practices an art or skill.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal