rénwù: 人物 - Character, Figure, Personage

• Keywords: renwu, 人物, ren wu, meaning of renwu, Chinese character, historical figure in Chinese, figure in a story Chinese, personage Chinese, public figure, HSK 4
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 人物 (rénwù), a fundamental Chinese word used to describe a “character” in a story, a “figure” from history, or any significant “personage” in society. This page breaks down 人物 (rénwù), explaining how it differs from the simple word for “person” (人, rén) and how it is used in literature, news, and everyday conversation to denote someone of importance or note.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rénwù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: A person, especially one of importance, or a character in a work of fiction.
• In a Nutshell: While 人 (rén) just means “person,” 人物 (rénwù) elevates them to a higher status. Think “figure,” “personage,” or “character.” It’s the word you use for the protagonist of a movie (电影人物), a famous historical figure (历史人物), or an influential person in the news (风云人物). It implies that the person is notable, significant, or serves a specific role in a narrative, be it real or fictional.

• 人 (rén): This character is a simple pictograph of a person walking. It is one of the most basic and common characters, meaning “person,” “human,” or “people.”
• 物 (wù): This character means “thing,” “object,” or “matter.” It's found in words like 动物 (dòngwù, animal) and 礼物 (lǐwù, gift).

The combination of 人 (rén) and 物 (wù) might seem odd at first. “Person-thing”? The key is to understand that 物 (wù) adds a sense of substance and significance. It turns a generic “person” into a notable “entity” or “figure” within a specific context—a story, a historical period, or a social sphere. They are a “person of substance.”

In Chinese culture, history and literature are often viewed through the lens of key individuals who shaped events or embodied certain virtues. The term 人物 (rénwù) is central to this perspective. It's the go-to word for discussing the actors on the stage of history or fiction. A useful comparison is the English distinction between “a person” and “a figure” or “a character.”

• “Character” in English is used almost exclusively for fictional beings in books, plays, or films.
• “Figure” is typically used for historical or political individuals (e.g., “a historical figure”).
• 人物 (rénwù) fluidly bridges all these contexts. You use the same word to talk about Harry Potter, Napoleon, and a noteworthy CEO in the news. This reflects a cultural perspective where the stories of real life and the stories of fiction are both driven by significant 人物 (rénwù). It highlights the narrative quality attributed to the lives of important people.

人物 (rénwù) is a versatile and common word used across various domains:

• Literature, Film, and Games: It is the standard term for a character.
  • 主要人物 (zhǔyào rénwù) - main character
  • 虚拟人物 (xūnǐ rénwù) - virtual/fictional character
• History and Academia: It's used to refer to any significant historical person.
  • 历史人物 (lìshǐ rénwù) - historical figure
  • 重要人物 (zhòngyào rénwù) - important figure
• News and Media: The media uses it to describe people of public interest.
  • 公众人物 (gōngzhòng rénwù) - public figure
  • 政治人物 (zhèngzhì rénwù) - political figure
  • 风云人物 (fēngyún rénwù) - literally “wind and cloud person,” meaning an influential and dynamic figure who is currently making waves.
• Everyday Conversation: You might use it to describe someone who is influential or well-known within a smaller circle, like a “big shot” or a “key player” in a company or industry.

• Example 1:
• 哈利·波特是这部小说里的主要人物。
• Pinyin: Hālì Bōtè shì zhè bù xiǎoshuō lǐ de zhǔyào rénwù.
• English: Harry Potter is the main character in this novel.
• Analysis: Here, 人物 is used in its most common context: a character in a work of fiction. 主要 (zhǔyào) means “main.”
• Example 2:
• 孔子是中国历史上一个非常重要的人物。
• Pinyin: Kǒngzǐ shì Zhōngguó lìshǐ shàng yī ge fēicháng zhòngyào de rénwù.
• English: Confucius is a very important figure in Chinese history.
• Analysis: This shows 人物 used for a real, historical person of great significance. 历史 (lìshǐ) means “history.”
• Example 3:
• 作为公众人物，他的言行备受关注。
• Pinyin: Zuòwéi gōngzhòng rénwù, tā de yánxíng bèi shòu guānzhù.
• English: As a public figure, his words and actions receive a lot of attention.
• Analysis: 公众人物 (gōngzhòng rénwù) is a set phrase for “public figure,” commonly used in news and discussions about celebrities or politicians.
• Example 4:
• 这部电影刻画了几个不同阶层的人物。
• Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng kèhuà le jǐ ge bùtóng jiēcéng de rénwù.
• English: This movie portrays several characters from different social classes.
• Analysis: 刻画 (kèhuà) means “to portray” or “to depict.” This sentence demonstrates how 人物 can be used to refer to a group of characters.
• Example 5:
• 他是我们公司里的关键人物。
• Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen gōngsī lǐ de guānjiàn rénwù.
• English: He is a key figure in our company.
• Analysis: This is an example of using 人物 in a business or organizational context to mean a “key player” or someone indispensable.
• Example 6:
• 你最喜欢的卡通人物是谁？
• Pinyin: Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de kǎtōng rénwù shì shéi?
• English: Who is your favorite cartoon character?
• Analysis: 卡通 (kǎtōng) is a loanword from “cartoon.” This is a very common and simple question a beginner can learn.
• Example 7:
• 他被评为年度风云人物。
• Pinyin: Tā bèi píng wéi niándù fēngyún rénwù.
• English: He was named person of the year.
• Analysis: 风云人物 (fēngyún rénwù) is a powerful, almost poetic term for an influential person of the moment. 年度 (niándù) means “annual” or “of the year.”
• Example 8:
• 每个人物都有自己独特的背景故事。
• Pinyin: Měi ge rénwù dōu yǒu zìjǐ dútè de bèijǐng gùshì.
• English: Every character has their own unique backstory.
• Analysis: This highlights the narrative aspect of 人物. It applies equally to fictional characters and biographical studies of real people.
• Example 9:
• 他只是个无名小人物，但梦想很大。
• Pinyin: Tā zhǐ shì ge wúmíng xiǎo rénwù, dàn mèngxiǎng hěn dà.
• English: He's just an unknown “little guy,” but he has big dreams.
• Analysis: This introduces the important contrasting term 小人物 (xiǎo rénwù), which means an insignificant person, a commoner, or a “nobody.” It shows the flexibility of the root word.
• Example 10:
• 这起事件涉及好几位政治人物。
• Pinyin: Zhè qǐ shìjiàn shèjí hǎo jǐ wèi zhèngzhì rénwù.
• English: This incident involves several political figures.
• Analysis: 政治人物 (zhèngzhì rénwù) is a standard term for “politician” or “political figure.” Note the use of the formal measure word 位 (wèi) for respected people.

• 人物 (rénwù) vs. 人 (rén): This is the most critical distinction. Never use 人物 (rénwù) to refer to an ordinary person, including yourself or your friends, unless you are joking or being sarcastic.
  • Correct: 我是个学生 (Wǒ shì ge xuéshēng) - I am a student.
  • Incorrect: 我是个学生人物 (Wǒ shì ge xuéshēng rénwù) - This sounds bizarre and arrogant.
  • Correct: 他是个好人 (Tā shì ge hǎorén) - He is a good person.
  • Incorrect: 他是个好人物 (Tā shì ge hǎo rénwù) - This implies he is a “good public figure,” which is a much more specific and high-status claim.
• Not the same as English “has character”: The term 人物 (rénwù) does not describe a person's personality trait of being strong or interesting. To say someone “has character” or “is a real character” (in the sense of being quirky or eccentric), you would use different expressions, such as 他很有个性 (tā hěn yǒu gèxìng - he has a lot of personality) or 他是个怪人 (tā shì ge guàirén - he is a strange person).

• 角色 (juésè) - Role; character (in a performance). More specific to the part an actor plays. Often interchangeable with 人物 in film/play contexts, but 角色 emphasizes the “role” itself.
• 主角 (zhǔjué) - Protagonist, main character. A more specific term for the lead 人物.
• 配角 (pèijué) - Supporting character/role. The opposite of 主角.
• 名人 (míngrén) - Famous person, celebrity. All 名人 are 人物, but not all 人物 (like fictional characters) are 名人.
• 英雄 (yīngxióng) - Hero. A specific type of 人物 who is admired for courage and noble qualities.
• 伟人 (wěirén) - A great person (in history). This term carries more weight and reverence than 历史人物 (lìshǐ rénwù). It's reserved for figures like Sun Yat-sen or Einstein.
• 小人物 (xiǎo rénwù) - A “little guy,” an insignificant person. The opposite of a major 人物, this term is often used to create a sense of empathy for the common person.
• 公众人物 (gōngzhòng rénwù) - Public figure. A set phrase commonly seen in media.