他人

• Pinyin: tā rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 他 = 亻(person) + 也; 人 = pictograph of standing person

Meaning

Others; other people. A formal way to refer to people other than oneself.

More formal than 别人. Used in written language, legal documents, and formal speech. Emphasizes the distinction between oneself and everyone else.

Examples

1. 不要把自己的快乐建立在他人的痛苦之上。 Don't build your own happiness on the suffering of others.
2. 个人隐私不应被他人随意侵犯。 Personal privacy should not be casually violated by others.
3. 他从不在背后议论他人，这点我很欣赏。 He never talks about others behind their backs — I really appreciate that about him.

Usage Guide

Context: written, legal, philosophical

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 尊重他人是基本素养。(Respecting others is a basic quality.)
• 不得将账户借给他人使用。(The account must not be lent to others.)

Don't Say

• 口语中频繁用'他人'代替'别人' (In casual conversation, 他人 sounds stiff — use 别人 instead)

Origin & History

他 means 'he' or 'other,' 人 means 'person.' Combined: other people.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal