人物
rén wù HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

这本书的人物很有趣。
Zhè běn shū de rénwù hěn yǒuqù.
The characters in this book are very interesting.
他是重要历史人物。
Tā shì zhòngyào lìshǐ rénwù.
He is an important historical figure.
电影里的人物很真实。
Diànyǐng lǐ de rénwù hěn zhēnshí.
The characters in the movie are very realistic.
这个人物很善良。
Zhège rénwù hěn shànliáng.
This character is very kind.
他是重要人物。
Tā shì zhòngyào rénwù.
He is an important figure.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 人 means 'person,' and 物 means 'thing' or 'object.' Think of a 人物 as a 'person-thing'—a person who stands out or has a defined role, like a character in a story or a notable figure in real life.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It appears in contexts discussing historical figures, influential individuals, or fictional characters, such as in biographies, news reports, literary analysis, and everyday conversations about notable people.

📖 Grammar Points

人物 is typically used as a noun and can be modified by adjectives (e.g., 重要人物 - important figure) or other nouns (e.g., 历史人物 - historical figure). It often serves as the subject or object in sentences, such as in the example: '她父亲是当地非常有影响力的一个人物.'

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, referring to someone as a 人物 often implies respect or acknowledgment of their social standing or achievements. It can carry nuanced connotations depending on context—for instance, 小人物 (little person) might describe an ordinary or overlooked individual, while 大人物 (big shot) denotes someone powerful or famous.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 人 (rén, meaning 'person' in a general sense), 人物 specifically highlights a person's role, significance, or character traits. It differs from 角色 (juésè, 'role' or 'character'), which is more narrowly used for parts in performances or specific functions, whereas 人物 can refer to real-life figures as well.

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