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自己人 (zì jǐ rén) — someone from one's own group; a trusted insider; one of us

Definition

A noun for someone inside your own group — 'one of us,' a trusted insider. Implies loyalty and shared interests, not just acquaintance, so it is stronger than 朋友 ('friend') and signals in-group trust.

noun
someone from one's own groupa trusted insiderone of us

Examples

  • ，自己人。
    Bié kè qi, dà jiā dōu shì zì jǐ rén.
    Don't be polite — we're all family here.
  • 自己人。
    Zhè jiàn shì wǒ zhī gào sù zì jǐ rén.
    I only tell insiders about this matter.
  • 自己人。
    Tā zǎo jiù bǎ nǐ kàn chéng zì jǐ rén le.
    He has long considered you one of us.

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.

自己self
自zìself己jǐself
联合Coordinate
人rénperson

自己人 names a 人 belonging to 自己, one of our own.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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

The 己 shape is a picture of a silk rope used to bind objects.

Open 己 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →
Appears in
Friends & Social

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