Chinese word

别人

Pronunciation

Pinyinbié rén

Meaning

  • pronounother people

Example

别人有不同的意见。bié rén yǒu bù tóng de yì jiàn

Other people have different opinions.

Illustration for 别人 (other people)

More examples

不要拿别人的东西。bú yào ná bié rén de dōng xī

Don't take other people's things.

Core concept

A person or group seen from outside the speaker's position.

Common phrases

  • 别人的意见bié rén de yì jiàn

    other people's opinions

  • 别人的东西bié rén de dōng xī

    other people's things

Similar words

他人tā rén: Refers to people other than oneself in a formal style.
其他人qí tā rén: Refers to other people within a particular situation or group.

Definition in Chinese

指除说话人之外的其他人，可指单数或复数，既可独立使用也可作为定语与名词连用（如“别人的想法”）。zhǐ chú shuō huà rén zhī wài de qí tā rén kě zhǐ dān shù huò fù shù jì kě dú lì shǐ yòng yě kě zuò wéi dìng yǔ yǔ míng cí lián yòng rú bié rén de xiáng fǎ

Word origin

别人 (biérén, "other people") joins 别 (bié, "separate or different") with 人 (rén, "person"), giving the idea of people set apart from the speaker.

Usage tips

  • English often marks number in this expression, but Chinese leaves singular or plural open until the context makes it clear.

Opposites

Word lists with this word