Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 人力資源 / 人力资源 | rénlì zīyuán |
| 人事 | rénshì |
The most common and recognized term for human resources is 人力资源 (rénlì zīyuán). To refer specifically to the HR department within a company, the suffix 部 (bù), meaning department, is added to 人力資源.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 人力資源 (rénlì zīyuán) is a literal translation where 人力 means human power/labor and 資源 means resources.
Which one should you use?
While 人力資源 (rénlì zīyuán) is the formal term for the field of Human Resources, 人事 (rénshì) is a common shorthand used to refer to the personnel department or personnel matters.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, 人力資源 (rénlì zīyuán) is the standard expression for human resources and the term 人事部門 (rénshì bùmén) is a formal reference to the human resources department. In mainland China, the term 人事管理 (rénshì guǎnlǐ) is occasionally used. The term 人事 (rénshì) is widely used in both mainland China and Taiwan.
How do you pronounce it?
rénlì zīyuán
Did you know?
- In a professional context, calling someone a 資源 (zīyuán) can sound strangely dehumanizing to a Chinese ear, as it treats a person literally as a consumable material like oil or coal.
- While 人力资源 is a modern corporate term, the word 人事 (rénshì) shares its roots with a classical concept of 'human affairs' or 'fate', suggesting that the way people are managed is an extension of their destiny.
- The character 源 in 资源 means 'source' or 'spring'. This implies that human talent is viewed as a flowing stream or a natural wellspring that needs to be tapped.
Examples in context
- 我们需要招聘一个人力资源经理。We need to hire a human resources manager.
- 公司人事部门需要加强员工培训计划。The company's human resources department needs to strengthen the employee training program.
- 培养人力是公司成功的关键之一。Cultivating human capital is one of the keys to a company's success.
- 请你把人员问题报告给人事部。Please report the personnel issue to the human resources department.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “human resources” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
