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西人 (xī rén) — Westerner

Definition

Literary/formal term for 'Westerner,' common in historical or written Chinese. In modern spoken use, 西方人 is more neutral and common.

noun
Westerner
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 西人。
    Tā shì yí wèi xī rén.
    He is a Westerner.
  • 西人。
    Zhè xiē xī rén duì zhōng guó wén huà hěn gǎn xìng qù.
    These Westerners are very interested in Chinese culture.
  • ，西人。
    Zài lì shǐ shàng, xī rén zuì zǎo shì tōng guò sī chóu zhī lù lái dào zhōng guó de.
    Historically, Westerners first came to China via the Silk Road.

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.

西xīwest
人rénperson

西 (west) and 人 (person) combine to mean a person from the West.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 西 →

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
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