When combined, 人民 (rénmín) literally means “person-populace.” This fusion creates a grand, formal term that elevates the concept from just “people” to “The People”—the entire citizenry that forms the basis of the nation-state.
The term 人民 (rénmín) is not just a vocabulary word; it is a cornerstone of modern Chinese political identity. Its significance is deeply rooted in the ideology of the People's Republic of China. Many of the country's most important institutions are named with 人民 to signify that the state, in principle, derives its legitimacy from and exists to serve the populace. This includes:
Compared to the American/Western concept of “the people,” there is a crucial difference in perspective. In the West, “the people” is often framed as a force that holds the government accountable, sometimes standing in opposition to it. In the Chinese context, 人民 (rénmín) more often implies a unified body that is led by and works in concert with the state. Historically, the term was also used to draw a line between the legitimate members of the nation and its “enemies” (敌人 - dírén), who were considered outside of the 人民.
Understanding when and when *not* to use 人民 (rénmín) is key for any learner. Formal and Political Contexts: This is the primary and most appropriate environment for the term. You will see and hear it constantly in:
Informal and Everyday Conversation: You would almost never use 人民 (rénmín) to describe people in a casual setting. For example, you wouldn't point to a crowd in a shopping mall and say they are 人民. It would sound strange, overly formal, and politically charged. In these situations, you would simply use 人 (rén).
Example 1: 为人民服务。 Pinyin: Wèi rénmín fúwù. English: Serve the people. Analysis: This is one of the most famous political slogans in China, originally attributed to Mao Zedong. It encapsulates the stated mission of the Communist Party and government. It is extremely formal and ideological. Example 2: 中华人民共和国于1949年成立。 Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó yú yījiǔsìjiǔ nián chénglì. English: The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. Analysis: Here, 人民 (rénmín) is part of the official name of the country, highlighting its political importance. Example 3: 这件衬衫一百元人民币。 Pinyin: Zhè jiàn chènshān yībǎi yuán rénmínbì. English: This shirt costs 100 RMB. Analysis: 人民币 (rénmínbì) is the official name for the currency. In daily life, people more commonly say 块 (kuài), but 人民币 is used in formal, financial, or international contexts. Example 4: 政府的责任是提高人民的生活水平。 Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ de zérèn shì tígāo rénmín de shēnghuó shuǐpíng. English: The government's responsibility is to raise the people's standard of living. Analysis: This is a typical sentence you might hear in a news report or policy discussion. 人民 refers to the entire national population in an economic context. Example 5: 天安门广场上矗立着人民英雄纪念碑。 Pinyin: Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng shàng chùlìzhe Rénmín Yīngxióng Jìniànbēi. English: The Monument to the People's Heroes stands in Tiananmen Square. Analysis: This shows 人民 used to honor those who sacrificed for the nation, again in a highly formal, official, and historical context. Example 6: 中国人民是勤劳和智慧的。 Pinyin: Zhōngguó rénmín shì qínláo hé zhìhuì de. English: The Chinese people are industrious and wise. Analysis: This sentence expresses a sense of national character and pride. 人民 is used here to generalize about the entire populace in a positive, unifying way. Example 7: 法律面前，所有人民都是平等的。 Pinyin: Fǎlǜ miànqián, suǒyǒu rénmín dōu shì píngděng de. English: Before the law, all people are equal. Analysis: In a legal or philosophical context, 人民 is used to mean the entire citizenry to whom the laws apply. Note: 公民 (gōngmín), or “citizen,” could also be used here and is more common in purely legal text. Example 8: 我们必须依靠人民，相信人民。 Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū yīkào rénmín, xiāngxìn rénmín. English: We must rely on the people and believe in the people. Analysis: This is another phrase with a strong political tone, emphasizing the populist-sounding ideology of the ruling party. Example 9: 这是人民的选择，是历史的选择。 Pinyin: Zhè shì rénmín de xuǎnzé, shì lìshǐ de xuǎnzé. English: This is the choice of the people, the choice of history. Analysis: A very grand and declarative statement, often used to justify a major political decision or historical event by claiming it has a popular mandate. Example 10: 国家的一切权力属于人民。 Pinyin: Guójiā de yíqiè quánlì shǔyú rénmín. English: All power in the country belongs to the people. Analysis: This is a foundational principle stated in the Chinese constitution. It uses 人民 in its most fundamental, political sense as the ultimate source of state power.