出身

• Pinyin: chū shēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 出 = to come from; 身 = body/self/origin

Meaning

Family background; origin; class background; to come from (a background).

Describes one's social, family, or professional origins. Important concept historically in China regarding class status. Now also used for professional or educational background.

Examples

1. 他出身于一个普通的农民家庭。 He came from an ordinary peasant family.
2. 她是科班出身的舞蹈演员。 She's a dancer with formal professional training.
3. 不要因为出身而歧视别人。 Don't discriminate against others because of their background.

Usage Guide

Context: biography, social, career

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他的出身很普通，但成就不凡。(His background is ordinary, but his achievements are remarkable.)
• 科班出身的演员基本功更扎实。(Actors from professional training have more solid fundamentals.)

Don't Say

• 你的出身不好 (Sounds like class discrimination — avoid making judgments about others' backgrounds)

Origin & History

Compound of 出 (to come from) and 身 (body/self). One's bodily/familial origins.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal