běnrén: 本人 - I/Me (Formal), Oneself, In Person

• Keywords: benren, ben ren, 本人, Chinese for “myself”, “oneself” in Chinese, formal “I” in Chinese, 我 vs 本人, how to say “in person” in Chinese, filling out forms in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning and proper usage of 本人 (běn rén), the formal Chinese word for “I”, “me”, “myself”, or “in person”. This guide explains when to use this important term instead of the common 我 (wǒ), especially in official documents, formal introductions, and situations requiring a serious tone. Learn its cultural significance, see practical examples, and avoid common mistakes to sound more professional and authentic in your Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bĕn rén
• Part of Speech: Pronoun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A formal pronoun meaning “I”, “me”, “myself”, or “in person”, used primarily in written and official contexts.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 本人 (běn rén) as the Chinese equivalent of writing “the undersigned” on a legal document or using your full name to refer to yourself in a formal speech. It's a significant step up in formality from the everyday “I” (我, wǒ). Using 本人 removes personal emotion and adds a layer of objectivity and seriousness, making it perfect for contracts, applications, and official statements.

• 本 (běn): This character originally depicted a tree (木, mù) with a line marking its base, meaning “root” or “origin.” By extension, it means “this,” “current,” or “source.”
• 人 (rén): A simple pictogram of a person walking, meaning “person” or “people.”
• Together, 本人 (běn rén) literally translates to “this person” or “the root person.” In context, it points directly and formally to the speaker or writer as the specific individual in question, meaning “oneself.”

In Chinese culture, the language you use reflects and reinforces social context and relationships. Unlike English, which uses “I” in almost every situation, Chinese has different words for “I” to match different levels of formality. 本人 (běn rén) is a key example of this. Its usage signals that the situation is official, serious, or public. It creates a professional distance, shifting the focus from the individual's personal feelings to their official capacity or identity. This contrasts with the Western tendency to value personal expression and informality in many professional settings. While an American CEO might say, “I believe our company is headed in the right direction,” a Chinese CEO in a formal press conference might state, “本人认为…” (běn rén rènwéi…), which translates to “I believe…” but carries the weight of an official position statement rather than a personal opinion. Using 本人 is a sign of acknowledging the formality of the occasion and showing respect for the established protocol.

You will encounter 本人 frequently in specific, non-casual situations. Using it correctly is a hallmark of an advanced learner.

• Written Chinese (Most Common):
  • Forms & Applications: On any official form (bank, visa, university), you'll see fields next to which you write your information. E.g., 本人姓名 (My Name), 本人签名 (My Signature).
  • Contracts & Legal Documents: Used to refer to oneself as a party in the agreement. E.g., “本人同意以上条款” (“I agree to the above terms”).
  • Formal Letters & Emails: In business or official correspondence, using 本人 instead of 我 can add a layer of formality and seriousness.
• Spoken Chinese (Less Common but Important):
  • Formal Speeches & Press Conferences: When a person is speaking in an official capacity (e.g., as a company representative, a government official, or a public figure).
  • Police or Legal Proceedings: When giving an official statement.
  • Referring to a Third Person “In Person”: It can also mean “the person themselves” or “the actual person.” For example, if you're looking at someone's photo, you might say “照片没有本人好看” (The photo isn't as good-looking as the person in real life).

• Example 1:
  • 这份合同需要本人签字。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn hétong xūyào běnrén qiānzì.
  • English: This contract requires my signature (lit: requires the person-in-question's signature).
  • Analysis: A very common and standard phrase in any official or business setting.
• Example 2:
  • 银行规定，此项业务必须由本人亲自办理。
  • Pinyin: Yínháng guīdìng, cǐ xiàng yèwù bìxū yóu běnrén qīnzì bànlǐ.
  • English: The bank stipulates that this transaction must be handled by the account holder in person.
  • Analysis: Here, 本人 is used with 亲自 (qīnzì - “personally”), a very common pairing to emphasize that no one else can do it on your behalf.
• Example 3:
  • 我看了一下他的身份证，照片和本人差距很大。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kàn le yīxià tā de shēnfènzhèng, zhàopiàn hé běnrén chājù hěn dà.
  • English: I looked at his ID card; the photo is very different from the actual person.
  • Analysis: This shows the usage of 本人 to mean “the person in the flesh” or “the actual person,” referring to a third party.
• Example 4:
  • 以上观点仅代表本人立场，与公司无关。
  • Pinyin: Yǐshàng guāndiǎn jǐn dàibiǎo běnrén lìchǎng, yǔ gōngsī wúguān.
  • English: The above views represent my personal stance only and have no connection to the company.
  • Analysis: A classic formal disclaimer used in emails or public statements to separate personal opinion from an official company position.
• Example 5:
  • 本人在此郑重声明，我没有参与任何违法活动。
  • Pinyin: Běnrén zài cǐ zhèngzhòng shēngmíng, wǒ méiyǒu cānyù rènhé wéifǎ huódòng.
  • English: I hereby solemnly declare that I have not participated in any illegal activities.
  • Analysis: Used at the beginning of a very serious, official declaration. Note that 我 can still be used later in the sentence for flow, but 本人 sets the initial formal tone.
• Example 6:
  • 申请表上要求填写本人的联系电话。
  • Pinyin: Shēnqǐngbiǎo shàng yāoqiú tiánxiě běnrén de liánxì diànhuà.
  • English: The application form requires you to fill in your own contact phone number.
  • Analysis: A typical instruction found on forms. It refers to the person filling out the form.
• Example 7:
  • 记者昨天采访了获奖者本人。
  • Pinyin: Jìzhě zuótiān cǎifǎng le huòjiǎngzhě běnrén.
  • English: The reporter interviewed the award winner themselves yesterday.
  • Analysis: Emphasizes that the interview was with the actual winner, not their representative or family member.
• Example 8:
  • 欢迎大家，我叫王磊，本人是本次活动的主持人。
  • Pinyin: Huānyíng dàjiā, wǒ jiào Wáng Lěi, běnrén shì běn cì huódòng de zhǔchírén.
  • English: Welcome everyone, my name is Wang Lei, and I am the host of this event.
  • Analysis: A formal way to introduce one's role in a public setting. It's more formal than just saying “我是主持人”.
• Example 9:
  • 所有解释权归本人所有。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu jiěshìquán guī běnrén suǒyǒu.
  • English: All rights of interpretation belong to me.
  • Analysis: A legalistic phrase you might see at the bottom of a document or set of rules.
• Example 10:
  • 这幅画比本人照片更传神。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fú huà bǐ běnrén zhàopiàn gèng chuánshén.
  • English: This painting captures the spirit of the person better than a photograph does.
  • Analysis: Another example of using 本人 to mean the “real person” as opposed to a representation of them.

• Mistake 1: Using 本人 in Casual Conversation.

This is the most common and jarring mistake. You would never use 本人 when talking to friends, family, or colleagues about everyday topics. It would sound arrogant, distant, and bizarre.

• Incorrect: `跟朋友说 (Speaking to a friend):` “本人今天很累。” (Běnrén jīntiān hěn lèi.)
• Correct: `跟朋友说 (Speaking to a friend):` “我今天很累。” (Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi.)
• Mistake 2: Confusing 本人 with 自己 (zìjǐ).
• *本人 replaces 我 (wǒ) as a subject or object pronoun in formal contexts. 自己 (zìjǐ) is a reflexive pronoun, meaning “oneself” (myself, yourself, himself, etc.). It refers back to a subject already mentioned in the sentence. * Incorrect: 我伤害了本人。 (Wǒ shānghài le běnrén.) * Correct: 我伤害了自己。 (Wǒ shānghài le zìjǐ.) - I hurt myself. * Correct: 本人伤害了李先生。 (Běnrén shānghài le Lǐ xiānsheng.) - I (formally stating) hurt Mr. Li. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * 我 (wǒ) - The default, neutral, and most common word for “I” or “me”. Use this 99% of the time in daily life. * 自己 (zìjǐ) - Oneself; a reflexive pronoun. Used for actions one does to oneself (e.g., “I'll do it myself”). * 个人 (gèrén) - Individual; personal. Used to distinguish personal opinion from a group's, e.g., 我个人认为… (wǒ gèrén rènwéi… - “I personally think…”). * 亲自 (qīnzì) - Personally; in person (adverb). It describes how an action is done and is often paired with 本人, as in 本人亲自**办理.
• 当事人 (dāngshìrén) - The party concerned; the person involved (in an incident, lawsuit, or situation). It's a legal or official term.
• 您 (nín) - The formal and polite word for “you,” showing respect to the listener. The counterpart to the formal “I”.
• 咱 (zán) - We; us. An informal pronoun that specifically includes the listener. More common in Northern China.
• 敝人 (bìrén) - A very archaic and self-deprecating way of saying “I/me” (lit. “this shabby person”). You might see it in historical dramas but would not use it today.