平民 (píng mín) — common people, populace

Definition

平民 refers to ordinary people without rank or title — the 'commoners.' It often carries a contrast with officials, the wealthy, or the elite.

noun

common peoplepopulace

Measure word · 个

平民。
Zhè wèi zǒng tǒng dé dào le hěn duō píng mín de zhī chí.
This president received support from many common people.
平民。
Zhàn zhēng zhōng zuì shòu kǔ de shì píng mín.
During war, those who suffer the most are the common people.
平民。
Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng shù le píng mín de shēng huó.
This movie tells about the life of ordinary people.

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.

平 means ordinary, 民 means people; together common people.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

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.

Appears in