证人

• Pinyin: zhèng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 证 = 讠+ 正 (words that are correct — testimony); 人 = person

Meaning

A witness; a person who testifies to what they have seen or experienced. Someone who provides evidence in legal or formal proceedings.

A legal term used in courtrooms and investigations. Types include 目击证人 (eyewitness), 证人证词 (witness testimony), and 证人保护 (witness protection). Also used metaphorically for witnesses to history.

Examples

1. 法庭传唤了三名关键证人出庭作证。 The court summoned three key witnesses to testify.
2. 作为事故的目击证人，他向警方详细描述了事发经过。 As an eyewitness to the accident, he gave the police a detailed account of what happened.
3. 这座古城是千年历史的见证人，承载着无数故事。 This ancient city is a witness to a thousand years of history, carrying countless stories.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, investigation, historical

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 证人必须如实陈述所见所闻，不得作伪证。(Witnesses must truthfully state what they saw and heard — they must not give false testimony.)
• 警方正在寻找案件的更多证人和线索。(Police are searching for more witnesses and leads in the case.)

Don't Say

• 我是他吃饭的证人 — overly formal for casual situations; use 我看到他吃饭了 for everyday observations

Origin & History

证 (testify/evidence) + 人 (person)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal