庶民 (shù mín) — common people; the multitude (formal/literary) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary/classical term for 'the common people', used in writing or historical context rather than everyday speech. Suggests an ordinary, low-status mass — often contrasted with rulers or the elite.

noun

common peoplethe multitude (formal/literary)

Examples

庶民。
Gǔ dài shù mín de shēng huó fēi cháng jiān kǔ.
The life of common people in ancient times was very hard.
庶民。
Zhè wèi huáng dì guān xīn shù mín de jí kǔ.
This emperor cared about the sufferings of the common people.
庶民。
Xīn zhèng ràng shù mín dé dào le gèng duō shí huì.
The new policy brought more benefits to the common people.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

庶 (common or numerous) and 民 (people) together name the multitude.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

石

石shí庶shù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

庶 pairs 石 (shí) for sound with 火 (fire) for meaning.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 民 shows an eye pierced by a sharp cross-shaped implement, possibly linked to an injured or unclear eye.

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