仁
rén
仁 (rén) is the Chinese phrase for "ren".
What does it mean word for word?
The character 仁 is composed of the radicals for 'person' (人) and 'two' (二), which literally suggests the virtue that arises from the relationship between two people.
How do you pronounce it?
rén
When do people say it?
In Confucianism, 仁 is considered the highest virtue and the core principle of human morality, representing benevolence or humaneness.
Did you know?
- In Chinese botany, the word 仁 is also used to refer to the 'kernel' or 'seed' of a fruit, such as the almond, because the seed is the essence of the plant.
- The ancient root of 仁 is linked to the Proto-Sino-Tibetan word for 'brain', suggesting that the concept of benevolence was once tied to the seat of intelligence.
- The word 仁 is often paired with 義 (righteousness) in Chinese culture to form the dual pillar of social ethics, where 仁 is the internal feeling and 義 is the external action.
Examples in context
- 这个国家有多少人口？How many people are there in this country?
- 我们公司有很多外国人员。Our company has a large number of foreign employees.
- 孩子们应该尊敬老人。Children should respect the elderly.
- 他是一个有仁德的人。Tā shì yīgè yǒu réndé de rén.He is a person with benevolence.
- 仁者爱人。Rén zhě ài rén.The benevolent person loves others.
- 这种做法缺乏仁义。Zhèzhǒng zuòfǎ quēfá rényì.This way of doing things lacks benevolence and righteousness.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a classic philosophy book in a library.
- 伟 Wei你觉得这本书的核心是什么？Nǐ juédé zhè běn shū de héxīn shì shénme?What do you think is the core of this book?
- 雨婷 Yuting我认为是关于仁的思想。Wǒ rènwéi shì guānyú rén de sīxiǎng.I think it is about the thought of benevolence.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，你对仁的理解很深。Yǔtíng, nǐ duì rén de lǐjiě hěn shēn.Yuting, your understanding of benevolence is very deep.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢，我也在努力学习。Xièxiè, wǒ yě zài nǔlì xuéxí.Thank you, I am also studying hard.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 仁, CC BY-SA 4.0.
