主人

• 拼音: zhǔ rén
• 汉字拆解: 主 = a candle flame on a stand, symbolising the central/main thing; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

含义

Host; owner; master. The person who owns or is in charge of something.

Can refer to the owner of a house, pet, or business; a host of a party or gathering; or the master/owner in a broader sense. Also used figuratively to mean 'master of one's own fate.' The counterpart is 客人 (guest).

例句

1. 小狗一看到主人就摇尾巴。
2. 这家餐厅的主人很热情。
3. 请进，我是这里的主人。

用法指南

语境: everyday, social

语气: informational

正确说法

• 这只猫的主人是谁？(Who is the owner of this cat?)
• 主人请客人们坐下。(The host asked the guests to sit down.)

错误说法

• 我是这个学校的主人。(Don't use 主人 for institutions where you are a member or student — say 校长 for principal or 学生 for student. 主人 implies personal ownership.)

起源与历史

Compound of 主 (main/primary/master) and 人 (person), literally 'main person.'

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal