代理人 (dài lǐ rén) — agent, representative

Definition

代理人 is a person formally appointed (often in writing, by a court or company) to act on someone else's behalf. 代表 is a broader term for any representative or delegate; 代理人 implies a more official, appointed role.

noun
agentrepresentative
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 代理人。
    Zhè wèi dài lǐ rén dài biǎo gōng sī qiān shǔ le hé tong.
    This agent signed the contract on behalf of the company.
  • 代理人。
    Bǎo xiǎn dài lǐ rén xū yào liǎo jiě hěn duō chǎn pǐn xì jié.
    An insurance agent needs to know many product details.
  • 代理人。
    Fǎ yuàn zhǐ dìng le yì míng dài lǐ rén chǔ lǐ zhè ge àn jiàn.
    The court appointed an agent to handle this case.

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.

代理act on behalf
代dàisubstitute理lǐmanage
偏正Modifier + head
人rénperson

代理 means to act on behalf of someone, and 人 denotes a person, together naming an agent or representative.

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ理lǐ
Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Open 理 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Professions & Jobs

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