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March 24, 2026
人物rénwù(ren2wu4)
人物 (rénwù) refers to a person or character, often in the context of literature, film, or drama. It can denote the protagonist or significant figures in stories and narratives, highlighting their roles and traits. This term is commonly used in discussions about character development and analysis.
Frequency#1400DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and cinema, the development of 人物 is crucial for storytelling, often reflecting moral lessons or societal values. Characters may embody specific traits that resonate with traditional Chinese philosophies.
Memory Tip
Think of 人 (rén) as a person and 物 (wù) as a thing or entity; together they form 'person-entity.' Imagine a play where each character is a unique entity with their own story, making it easier to remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Meanings of 人物
rénwù(ren2wu4)
1person
2character (in a play, novel etc)
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About 人物
人物Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1400Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2
Podcast: 人物
Podcast: 人物
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AI Study Notes for 人物
Quick Contrast
角色 (juésè) vs 人物 (rénwù): 角色 specifically refers to a role or character in a performance, while 人物 is a broader term that can refer to any person or character in various contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 人 (rén) as a person and 物 (wù) as a thing or entity; together they form 'person-entity.' Imagine a play where each character is a unique entity with their own story, making it easier to remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 人物 (rénwù) with simply 人 (rén), which means 'person.' While 人物 can refer to individuals in real life, it is often used for characters in stories, so ensure context is clear. It is typically used in formal or literary contexts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 人物 connects well with other vocabulary related to literature and storytelling, such as 故事 (gùshì, story) and 角色 (juésè, role). Focus on using it in sentences that discuss characters in books or films to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and cinema, the development of 人物 is crucial for storytelling, often reflecting moral lessons or societal values. Characters may embody specific traits that resonate with traditional Chinese philosophies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 人物 when discussing non-character entities, saying '人物' instead of '东西' (dōngxī, thing). Remember, 人物 is specifically for characters or people in narratives.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 人物
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Grammar Patterns of 人物
人物 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
"Before she came around," she says, "I was somebody in this town".
7
作为工头，他突然觉得自己是个重要人物。
zuò wéi gōng tóu， ， tā tū rán jué dé zì jǐ shì gè zhòng yào rén。
As an overseer, he suddenly found himself a person of consequence.
8
他是个巴罗克式的人物，衣着华丽但又不失优雅。
tā shì gè bā luó kè shì de rén wù， ， yī zháo huá lì dàn yòu bù shī yōu。
He was a baroque figure dressed in theatrical, but elegant, clothes.
9
普里莫·德里韦拉本人是个仁慈而真诚的家长式人物。
pǔ lǐ mò· · dé lǐ wéi lā běn rén shì gè rén cí ér zhēn chéng de jiā cháng shì rén。
Primo de Rivera himself was a benevolent and sincere paternalist.
10
詹森是个危险人物，可能会变得非常野蛮而凶残。
zhān sēn shì gè wēi xiǎn rén wù， ， kě néng huì biàn dé fēi cháng yě mán ér xiōng。
Jensen is a dangerous man, and can be very brutal and reckless.
Cultural Notes for 人物
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature and cinema, the development of 人物 is crucial for storytelling, often reflecting moral lessons or societal values. Characters may embody specific traits that resonate with traditional Chinese philosophies.
Frequently Asked Questions about 人物
While 人物 primarily refers to characters in stories, it can occasionally be used to describe notable historical figures or influential personalities.
人物 is more general and can refer to any character or person, while 角色 specifically refers to roles played by characters in a narrative or performance.
It's typically used in more formal or literary contexts; for casual conversation, you might simply use 人 (rén) to refer to people.
