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身份 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
身份shēnfènidentityHSK 5, n, rank #1013, Medium
身份shēnfènstatusHSK 5, n, rank #1013, Medium
身份shēnfèncapacityHSK 5, n, rank #1013, Medium
身份shēnfèndignityHSK 5, n, rank #1013, Medium
身份shēnfènpositionHSK 5, n, rank #1013, Medium
身份shēnfènrankHSK 5, n, rank #1013, Medium
shēnfèn(shen1fen4) T1
  1. 1identity
  2. 2status
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
身份shēnfèn(shen1fen4)

身份 (shēnfèn) refers to a person's identity or status within a social context. It encompasses notions of rank, dignity, and the roles one plays in society. Commonly used in discussions about social hierarchy and personal identification, it highlights the importance of how individuals perceive themselves and are perceived by others.

Frequency#1013DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, one's 身份 is often tied to family background and social connections, known as guanxi (关系), which can significantly influence personal and professional opportunities.

Memory Tip

Think of 身 (shēn) as 'body' and 份 (fèn) as 'part.' Together, they represent a 'part of the body' that defines who you are in a social context. Imagine your body wearing a badge that shows your identity and rank in society.

Meanings of 身份

shēnfèn(shen1fen4)
1identity
2status
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 身份

身份Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1013Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 身份

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Podcast: 身份

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AI Study Notes for 身份

Quick Contrast

身份 (shēnfèn) vs 地位 (dìwèi): use 身份 when emphasizing personal identity or social roles, while 地位 focuses more on social rank or status.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 身 (shēn) as 'body' and 份 (fèn) as 'part.' Together, they represent a 'part of the body' that defines who you are in a social context. Imagine your body wearing a badge that shows your identity and rank in society.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the contexts in which you use 身份; it's often used in formal discussions about social issues or legal contexts. A common mistake is confusing 身份 with 个人 (gèrén), which means 'individual' or 'personal.' Remember, 身份 is more about social status than personal identity.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 身份 connects well with other vocabulary related to social structures and roles, such as 社会 (shèhuì, society) and 职业 (zhíyè, profession). Focus on using 身份 in sentences that describe roles within a community or organization.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, one's 身份 is often tied to family background and social connections, known as guanxi (关系), which can significantly influence personal and professional opportunities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 身份 with 身体 (shēntǐ), which means 'body.' For example, saying '我的身体很高' (wǒ de shēntǐ hěn gāo) to describe one's status is incorrect; it should be '我的身份很高' (wǒ de shēnfèn hěn gāo) to correctly convey the idea of having a high social status.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 身份

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Component Characters

身shēnbody
HSK 47 strokes身
View full entry
份fènclassifier for gifts, newspaper, magazine, papers, reports, contracts etc
HSK 46 strokes亻
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Write 身份

身
份

Practice writing 身份 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 身份

身份 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 6 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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

幸好我带了____证，不然进不了大门。

Luckily I brought my ID — otherwise I could not have entered.

Example Sentences for 身份 (14)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们成了军队人员与平民雇员之间身份界定不清的人。

tā mén chéng le jūn duì rén yuán yǔ píng mín gù yuán zhī jiān shēn fèn jiè dìng bù qīng de rén。

They fell into that twilight zone between military personnel and civilian employees.
2
在以战争罪起诉这些人以前，官员们一直在等待他们身份的核实。

zài yǐ zhàn zhēng zuì qǐ sù zhè xiē rén yǐ qián， ， guān yuán mén yī zhí zài děng dài tā mén shēn fèn de hé。

Officials are awaiting positive identification before charging the men with war crimes.
3
警方认为那盘录像带可能录有能确认凶手身份的一些重要线索。

jǐng fāng rèn wéi nà pán lù xiàng dài kě néng lù yǒu néng què rèn xiōng shǒu shēn fèn de yī xiē zhòng yào xiàn suǒ。

The police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer.
4
有人担心他会因丑闻而辱没了身份。

yǒu rén dān xīn tā huì yīn chǒu wén ér rǔ méi le shēn fèn。

There were fears he would be dragged down by the scandal.
5
问那种问题会暴露我的身份。

wèn nà zhǒng wèn tí huì bào lòu wǒ de shēn fèn。

Asking those kind of questions could blow my cover.
6
她是个自尊心很强的人，绝不会自贬身份去写匿名信。

tā shì gè zì zūn xīn hěn qiáng de rén， ， jué bù huì zì biǎn shēn fèn qù xiě nì míng。

She's got too much dignity to descend to writing anonymous letters.
7
在斯堪的纳维亚神话里，月亮被赋予了男性身份。

zài sī kān de nà wéi yà shén huà lǐ， ， yuè liàng bèi fù yú le nán xìng shēn。

In Norse mythology the moon is personified as male.
8
他的办公室与其身份和阅历相称。

tā de bàn gōng shì yǔ qí shēn fèn hé yuè lì xiāng chēng。

His office was in keeping with his station and experience.
9
在不披露身份的条件下，他接受了记者的采访。

zài bù pī lòu shēn fèn de tiáo jiàn xià， ， tā jiē shòu le jì zhě de cǎi。

He spoke to reporters on condition that he was not identified.
10
彼得掏出钱包向那人出示他的身份证件。

bǐ dé tāo chū qián bāo xiàng nà rén chū shì tā de shēn fèn zhèng jiàn。

Peter took out his wallet and showed his ID to the man.
11
在网络时代，保护个人身份信息非常重要。

Zài wǎngluò shídài, bǎohù gèrén shēnfèn xìnxī fēicháng zhòngyào.

In the digital age, protecting personal identity information is very important.
12
他通过法律途径证明了自己的身份。

Tā tōngguò fǎlǜ tújìng zhèngmíngle zìjǐ de shēnfèn.

He verified his identity through legal means.
13
她一直在寻找她生父的身份。

Tā yīzhí zài xúnzhǎo tā shēngfù de shēnfèn.

She has been searching for the identity of her biological father.
14
在这个文化中，身份认同是一个重要的议题。

Zài zhège wénhuà zhōng, shēnfèn rèntóng shì yí gè zhòngyào de yìtí.

In this culture, identity recognition is an important issue.

Cultural Notes for 身份

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, one's 身份 is often tied to family background and social connections, known as guanxi (关系), which can significantly influence personal and professional opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions about 身份

You can say '他的身份很重要' (tā de shēnfèn hěn zhòngyào), meaning 'His identity/status is very important.'