gèrén: 个人 - Individual, Personal, Private

• Keywords: gèrén, 个人, Chinese individual, personal information in Chinese, private in Chinese, Chinese pronoun for self, Chinese grammar, learn Chinese, HSK words, individualism in China.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word gèrén (个人), meaning “individual,” “personal,” or “private.” This page breaks down its core meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage. Discover how gèrén is used for everything from “personal information” (个人信息) to expressing a “personal opinion” (个人观点), and understand its place within the broader context of Chinese collectivist culture. This guide is perfect for HSK 3 students and anyone wanting to grasp a fundamental concept in modern Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gèrén
• Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Refers to a single person as an individual, or describes something as being personal.
• In a Nutshell: `个人` is the default word for “individual” or “personal.” Think of it as singling out one person from a group, or specifying that something (like an opinion, a hobby, or information) belongs to one specific person. It's less about the Western philosophical concept of “individualism” and more a functional word to distinguish the “one” from the “many.”

• 个 (gè): This is the most common measure word in Chinese, functioning like “a,” “an,” or a generic “unit of.” It originates from the character for bamboo, with a single stalk representing one unit. In `个人`, it singles out one person.
• 人 (rén): This character simply means “person” or “people.” It's a pictogram of a person walking, seen in profile.

When combined, `个` + `人` literally translates to “a single person,” which perfectly forms the modern meaning of “an individual.”

The concept of `个人` is a fascinating window into Chinese culture, especially when compared to the Western notion of “the individual.” In American and many Western cultures, “individualism” is a core value, celebrating independence, self-reliance, and uniqueness. The individual is often seen as the primary unit of society. In traditional Chinese culture, which is more collectivist, the `个人` (individual) is almost always understood in relation to the `集体 (jítǐ)` (the collective/group). This group could be the family, the company, the community, or the nation. While an individual's needs and opinions are acknowledged, they are historically and culturally balanced against the harmony, stability, and goals of the larger group. For a learner, this means that while `个人` translates directly to “individual,” its cultural weight is different. Emphasizing your `个人观点` (personal opinion) can be a way to politely disagree without challenging a group's official stance. In modern China, there's a growing emphasis on personal expression and rights, but the deep-rooted importance of the collective remains a powerful social force.

`个人` is an extremely common and practical word used in various contexts.

• As an Adjective (“personal”): This is its most frequent use. It modifies nouns to indicate they belong to or are about a single person.
  • `个人信息` (gèrén xìnxī) - personal information
  • `个人爱好` (gèrén àihào) - personal hobbies
  • `个人空间` (gèrén kōngjiān) - personal space
• To State an Opinion (“Personally…”): It's very common to preface an opinion with `我个人…` (wǒ gèrén…), which means “I personally…” or “As for me…”. This softens the statement and clarifies that you are not speaking for a group.
  • `我个人认为…` (wǒ gèrén rènwéi…) - I personally think…
• As a Noun (“an individual”): It can refer to a single person, often in more formal or written contexts.
  • `保护个人的权利` (bǎohù gèrén de quánlì) - to protect the rights of the individual.

Its connotation is neutral and it is used in both formal and informal situations.

• Example 1:
  • 请在这里填写您的个人信息。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tiánxiě nín de gèrén xìnxī.
  • English: Please fill in your personal information here.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and practical use of `个人` as an adjective. You will encounter this on forms, websites, and apps.
• Example 2:
  • 这只是我的个人观点，不代表公司的立场。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì wǒ de gèrén guāndiǎn, bù dàibiǎo gōngsī de lìchǎng.
  • English: This is just my personal opinion, it doesn't represent the company's position.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using `个人` to distinguish one's own view from that of a group. This is a polite and common tactic in business or team settings.
• Example 3:
  • 我个人觉得，学习中文需要很多耐心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gèrén juédé, xuéxí Zhōngwén xūyào hěn duō nàixīn.
  • English: I personally feel that learning Chinese requires a lot of patience.
  • Analysis: Here, `我个人` (I personally) is used to preface a subjective feeling or opinion. It adds a slight emphasis that this is the speaker's own take.
• Example 4:
  • 他的个人爱好非常广泛，从滑雪到书法都有。
  • Pinyin: Tā de gèrén àihào fēicháng guǎngfàn, cóng huáxuě dào shūfǎ dōu yǒu.
  • English: His personal hobbies are very broad, ranging from skiing to calligraphy.
  • Analysis: A straightforward use of `个人` to mean “personal” when describing someone's interests.
• Example 5:
  • 公司的成功离不开每一个个人的努力。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de chénggōng líbukāi měi yī ge gèrén de nǔlì.
  • English: The company's success is inseparable from the efforts of each and every individual.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, `个人` is used as a noun, “individual,” emphasizing the contribution of each single person to the collective success.
• Example 6:
  • 这是一份我的个人简历。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī fèn wǒ de gèrén jiǎnlì.
  • English: This is a copy of my personal resume (CV).
  • Analysis: `个人简历` is the standard term for a resume or CV.
• Example 7:
  • 在公共场所，我们也要注意个人卫生。
  • Pinyin: Zài gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ, wǒmen yě yào zhùyì gèrén wèishēng.
  • English: In public places, we must also pay attention to personal hygiene.
  • Analysis: `个人卫生` (personal hygiene) is a fixed and common phrase.
• Example 8:
  • 他是一个非常注重个人空间的人。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yī ge fēicháng zhùzhòng gèrén kōngjiān de rén.
  • English: He is a person who really values personal space.
  • Analysis: `个人空间` (personal space) is a relatively modern concept that has become common in Chinese, showing how the language adapts.
• Example 9:
  • 法律面前，每个个人都是平等的。
  • Pinyin: Fǎlǜ miànqián, měi ge gèrén dōu shì píngděng de.
  • English: Before the law, every individual is equal.
  • Analysis: A formal use of `个人` as a noun to refer to the individual in a legal or philosophical sense.
• Example 10:
  • 这次旅行的费用是个人自理。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì lǚxíng de fèiyòng shì gèrén zìlǐ.
  • English: The expenses for this trip are to be paid by each individual themselves (i.e., not covered by the group/company).
  • Analysis: A common phrase in group travel or company outing notices. `个人自理` means “paid by the individual.”

• `个人` (gèrén) vs. `私人` (sīrén): This is a key distinction.
  • `个人` means “pertaining to an individual.” Think `个人信息` (personal information). It's neutral.
  • `私人` (sīrén) means “private” or “personal” with an added sense of being not public or confidential. Think `私人问题` (a private question) or `私人生活` (private life). Asking about someone's salary is a `私人问题`. Your hobbies are your `个人爱好`.
  • Mistake: Saying “这是我的个人问题” (zhè shì wǒ de gèrén wèntí) is understandable but less natural than “这是我的私人问题” (zhè shì wǒ de sīrén wèntí) if you mean “This is a private matter.”
• `个人` (gèrén) vs. `自己` (zìjǐ):
  • `个人` is mainly an adjective (“personal”) or a noun (“individual”).
  • `自己` (zìjǐ) means “oneself” and is used reflexively. It's about who is doing the action.
  • Mistake: Don't say `我个人开车去` (I personally drive there).
  • Correct: Say `我自己开车去` (Wǒ zìjǐ kāichē qù) - I drive there myself. Use `我个人…` mainly when stating an opinion: `我个人认为开车去更好` (I personally think it's better to drive there).
• `个人` vs. “Individualism”: `个人` refers to the person. The “-ism,” “individualism,” is a separate word: `个人主义` (gèrén zhǔyì). Using `个人` does not imply you are making a philosophical statement about individualism.

• 自己 (zìjǐ) - Oneself, myself, yourself. Refers back to the subject of the sentence.
• 私人 (sīrén) - Private, personal. Stresses confidentiality and the non-public nature of something.
• 集体 (jítǐ) - Collective, group. The cultural and linguistic counterpart to `个人`, essential for understanding social context.
• 个体 (gètǐ) - Individual (entity). A more formal, almost scientific term for an individual unit, whether a person, animal, or business.
• 隐私 (yǐnsī) - Privacy. The concept of privacy itself, which is protected by law.
• 本人 (běnrén) - I (me), oneself; in person. A very formal way to refer to “myself,” often used in legal documents or official announcements.
• 个人主义 (gèrén zhǔyì) - Individualism. The philosophical or political ideology, distinct from the simple word `个人`.
• 单人 (dānrén) - Single person. Used to describe things for one person, like a `单人床` (single bed) or `单人房` (single room).