主人翁 (zhǔ rén wēng) — protagonist, leading character (in fiction or a real event); master, person who takes charge; respectful term for a host

Definition

A formal/literary word with two senses: 'protagonist' in a story, and 'master/owner' (often of a country or collective — 国家的主人翁). Not used for everyday hosts.

noun
protagonistleading character (in fiction or a real event)masterperson who takes chargerespectful term for a host
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 主人翁。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō de zhǔ rén wēng shì yí gè píng fán ér wěi dà de gōng rén.
    The protagonist of this novel is an ordinary but great worker.
  • 主人翁，。
    Zuò wéi guó jiā de zhǔ rén zhǔ rén wēng, wǒ men yào jī jí cān yù shè huì jiàn shè.
    As the masters of the country, we should actively participate in social construction.
  • ，主人翁。
    Xiè xie nín jīn tiān de rè qíng zhāo dài, zūn jìng de zhǔ rén wēng.
    Thank you for your warm hospitality today, esteemed host.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

主人host
主zhǔmaster人rénperson
偏正Modifier + head
翁wēngperson

“主人” (host or master) and “翁” (a respectful term for a person) combine to mean the leading person.

Characters in this word

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

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 →

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
羽羽yǔwings
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng翁wēng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

翁 combines 羽 (wings) with 公, which gives the sound. Its shape originally pointed to feathers, and it later came to be used for “old man” and related senses.

Open 翁 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.