gèrén xìnxī: 个人信息 - Personal Information, Personal Data

• Keywords: gèrén xìnxī, 个人信息, personal information in Chinese, personal data Chinese, Chinese for PII, data privacy China, privacy in Chinese, 隐私, data protection law China, how to protect personal information in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the crucial modern Chinese term 个人信息 (gèrén xìnxī), which translates to “personal information” or “personal data.” This entry explores its meaning, cultural significance in the digital age, and practical use in everything from filling out online forms to understanding China's new data privacy laws. A must-know term for navigating modern life in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gèrén xìnxī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4/5 (Component words 信息 and 个人 are HSK 4)
• Concise Definition: The specific pieces of data that identify an individual, such as name, phone number, or ID number.
• In a Nutshell: 个人信息 (gèrén xìnxī) is the direct and standard way to say “personal information” or “PII (Personally Identifiable Information)” in Chinese. Think of it as the data you fill into a form, provide for a delivery, or use to register for an app. It's a neutral, technical term that has become extremely common with the rise of the internet, e-commerce, and digital services in China.

• 个 (gè): An individual, a single unit. It's also the most common measure word in Chinese. Here, it emphasizes the “individual” nature of the person.
• 人 (rén): Person, people. A simple pictograph of a walking person.
• 信 (xìn): Message, letter, information. It can also mean “trust,” but in this context, it squarely means information.
• 息 (xī): News, message, or to rest.
• When combined, 个人 (gèrén) means “individual” or “personal.” 信息 (xìnxī) is the standard word for “information” or “data.” Together, they literally mean “individual person's information,” a perfect and direct translation.

The concept of 个人信息 (gèrén xìnxī) is a fascinating window into modern China's rapid transformation. Historically, the Western concept of individual privacy was less emphasized in Chinese culture, which often prioritized the collective (family, community, country). The boundary between public and private life was more fluid. However, the digital revolution has dramatically changed this. With the near-universal adoption of platforms like WeChat (微信), Alipay (支付宝), and Taobao (淘宝), nearly every citizen's daily life is intertwined with the collection and use of 个人信息. This has led to a massive societal and governmental shift. Unlike the Western experience where data privacy laws evolved over decades, China has implemented sweeping legislation very recently, most notably the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) in 2021. This law, often compared to Europe's GDPR, signals a major formalization of data rights. So, while the term 个人信息 might seem like a simple translation of “personal information,” its cultural weight is tied to this very recent and ongoing negotiation between state control, corporate power, and a newfound public awareness of individual data rights in the world's largest digital society. For a learner, understanding this term is key to understanding modern Chinese life.

You will encounter 个人信息 constantly in practical, everyday situations.

• Online Registration and Apps: Almost every app, website, or service will ask you to “填写您的个人信息” (tiánxiě nín de gèrén xìnxī) - “fill in your personal information.”
• Data Security and Scams: Conversations about phone scams or data breaches will always use this term. A common warning is “不要泄露个人信息” (búyào xièlòu gèrén xìnxī) - “don't leak your personal information.”
• Formal and Legal Documents: You will see it in privacy policies, user agreements, and any official paperwork. It is a neutral to formal term. You wouldn't typically use it in very casual banter unless the topic is specifically about data.

• Example 1:
  • 为了注册，请填写您的个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhùcè, qǐng tiánxiě nín de gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: In order to register, please fill in your personal information.
  • Analysis: A very common and standard instruction you'll see on websites and forms.
• Example 2:
  • 我们绝不会与第三方分享您的个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jué bù huì yǔ dì-sān-fāng fēnxiǎng nín de gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: We will never share your personal information with third parties.
  • Analysis: This is a typical sentence found in a privacy policy, showing the formal usage of the term.
• Example 3:
  • 你要小心，不要在网上泄露太多个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yào xiǎoxīn, búyào zài wǎngshàng xièlòu tài duō gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: You need to be careful not to reveal too much personal information online.
  • Analysis: A common piece of advice between friends or family. 泄露 (xièlòu) means “to leak” or “divulge.”
• Example 4:
  • 这家公司因为非法收集用户个人信息而被罚款了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī yīnwèi fēifǎ shōují yònghù gèrén xìnxī ér bèi fákuǎn le.
  • English: This company was fined for illegally collecting users' personal information.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the term is used in legal and news contexts.
• Example 5:
  • 您的姓名和电话号码都属于个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Nín de xìngmíng hé diànhuà hàomǎ dōu shǔyú gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: Your name and phone number both count as personal information.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence defining what constitutes personal information.
• Example 6:
  • 黑客窃取了超过一百万用户的个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Hēikè qièqǔle chāoguò yì bǎi wàn yònghù de gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: Hackers stole the personal information of over one million users.
  • Analysis: 窃取 (qièqǔ) means “to steal,” often used for data or secrets.
• Example 7:
  • 中国新出台的法律加强了对个人信息的保护。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó xīn chūtái de fǎlǜ jiāqiángle duì gèrén xìnxī de bǎohù.
  • English: China's newly enacted law has strengthened the protection of personal information.
  • Analysis: Highlights the term's relevance in policy and national regulations. 保护 (bǎohù) means “to protect.”
• Example 8:
  • 我需要提供哪些个人信息才能预订酒店？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào tígōng nǎxiē gèrén xìnxī cáinéng yùdìng jiǔdiàn?
  • English: What personal information do I need to provide to book a hotel?
  • Analysis: A practical question a user might ask customer service.
• Example 9:
  • 在处理您的请求时，我们只会收集必要的个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Zài chǔlǐ nín de qǐngqiú shí, wǒmen zhǐ huì shōují bìyào de gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: When processing your request, we will only collect necessary personal information.
  • Analysis: This shows the concept of “data minimization,” a key principle in privacy laws.
• Example 10:
  • 你有权访问并更正你的个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu quán fǎngwèn bìng gēngzhèng nǐ de gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: You have the right to access and correct your personal information.
  • Analysis: This language reflects user rights as defined under modern data protection frameworks.

The most significant point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between 个人信息 (gèrén xìnxī) and 隐私 (yǐnsī).

• 个人信息 (gèrén xìnxī): The Data. This refers to the concrete pieces of information themselves: your name, ID number, address, biometrics, location history, etc. It's the “what.”
• 隐私 (yǐnsī): The Concept/Right. This refers to the broader concept of “privacy,” the state of being free from public attention or intrusion. It's the “right” to keep your 个人信息 private.

A data leak is a leak of 个人信息, which is a violation of your 隐私. Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 请填写您的隐私。 (Qǐng tiánxiě nín de yǐnsī.) → This sounds like “Please fill in your privacy,” which is nonsensical.
• Correct: 请填写您的个人信息。 (Qǐng tiánxiě nín de gèrén xìnxī.) → “Please fill in your personal information.”

Think of it this way: You protect (保护 bǎohù) your privacy (隐私 yǐnsī) by not leaking (不泄露 bù xièlòu) your personal information (个人信息 gèrén xìnxī).

• 隐私 (yǐnsī) - Privacy. The broader right or state of being private, distinct from the data itself.
• 数据 (shùjù) - Data. A more general and technical term. 个人信息 is a specific type of 数据.
• 信息 (xìnxī) - Information. The second half of the target term and a very common word on its own.
• 身份证 (shēnfènzhèng) - National ID card. This is arguably the single most important piece of 个人信息 for a Chinese citizen.
• 泄露 (xièlòu) - To leak, disclose, or divulge. Very commonly used with 个人信息.
• 保护 (bǎohù) - To protect. The verb most often associated with protecting data and privacy.
• 实名认证 (shímíng rènzhèng) - Real-name authentication. The widespread system in China that requires users to link online accounts to their real-life identity (个人信息).
• 用户 (yònghù) - User. The person whose 个人信息 is being collected.
• 账户 (zhànghù) - Account (e.g., online account). The entity that contains and is protected by your 个人信息.
• 密码 (mìmǎ) - Password. A key tool used to protect access to your 个人信息.