人物
rénwù
In Chinese, the English phrase 'character' (referring to a being in a story) is translated as 人物 (rénwù). Wiktionary also lists 角色 (juésè, jiǎosè).
Meaning: being in a story (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 人物 | rénwù |
| 角色 | juésè, jiǎosè |
When discussing a being in a story, you may use different terms depending on the context. While 人物 refers to the person or figure itself, 角色 is used to emphasize the specific role or part that a person plays within a game or a narrative. Additionally, the term 角色扮演 is the standard way to say 'role-playing', such as in the context of RPGs.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 人物 is composed of two parts: 人 (person) and 物 (thing/object/matter), literally meaning a 'person of significance' or a 'figure'.
Which one should you use?
人物 is used when referring to a person as a character or a historical/literary figure. In contrast, 角色 is used when emphasizing the specific role or part a person plays within a narrative or game.
How do you pronounce it?
rénwù
Did you know?
- Because 角色 can be pronounced 'jiǎosè', it was historically used as a slang term for 'actor' or even 'prostitute' in certain older contexts.
- When discussing characters in traditional Peking Opera, the roles are strictly divided into categories like 生 (male) and 旦 (female), which act as specific types of 角色 that dictate every movement on stage.
- While English speakers use 'character' to mean both a person in a book and a written symbol, Chinese uses 人物 for the person and 汉字 for the written symbol.
Examples in context
- 你最喜歡這本書中的哪個角色？Who's your favorite character in this book?This sentence is useful for asking about a favorite 角色 in a book.Tatoeba #5909457 by xjjAstrus, translation #908682 by CK
- 許多著作都致力於研究開發小孩學習慾望的方式，但其中很少會有作品分析學校教育的強制性角色。The mandatory character of schooling is rarely analyzed in the multitude of works dedicated to the study of the various ways to develop within children the desire to learn.This sentence uses 角色 to describe a mandatory part or role in a certain context.Tatoeba #13114003 by LeviHighway, translation #1623 by AlanF_US
- 你最喜欢的动漫角色是谁？What's your favorite anime character?This sentence is useful for asking about a favorite 角色 in anime.Tatoeba #10538269 by tato23bak, translation #5373872 by Hybrid
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a novel they are reading.
- 雨婷 Yuting這本小說的人物很生動。Zhè běn xiǎoshuō de rénwù hěn shēngdòng.The characters in this novel are very vivid.
- 浩然 Haoran我也覺得，男主角寫得很棒。Wǒ yě juéde, nán zhǔjiǎo xiě de hěn bàng.I think so too, the male protagonist is written brilliantly.
- 雨婷 Yuting你喜歡故事裡的哪些人物？Nǐ xǐhuān gùshì lǐ de nǎxiē rénwù?Which characters in the story do you like?
- 浩然 Haoran我最喜歡那個勇敢的小女孩。Wǒ zuì xǐhuān nàge yǒnggǎn de xiǎo nǚhái.I like that brave little girl the most.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “character” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
