human
Definitions
Relating to or characteristic of people, as opposed to animals, machines, or gods.
人的，人类的（区别于动物、机器或神）。
Showing the better or weaker qualities natural to people — kindness, or fallibility.
有人性的；（含弱点的）人之常情的。
A man, woman, or child of the species Homo sapiens; a person.
人，人类的一员。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Latin homo, 'a human being,' which shares an ancient root with humus, 'earth.' A human was an 'earthling' — a creature of the soil, contrasted with the gods above. So human and humus are family: people are, etymologically, made of the ground.
Root hum still carries 46 more wordsWhy It Means This
Human's place in the hum family surprises people: homo (human) and humus (earth) come from one ancient root. The Romans saw humans as earth-creatures, the opposite of the sky-dwelling gods. This is also why 'only human' carries a quiet humility — to be human is to be of the earth, imperfect and mortal. (Don't confuse this Latin homo 'human' with Greek homo- 'same' in homogeneous.)
Common Collocations
- 1.human being人，人类
- 2.human rights人权
- 3.human error人为失误
- 4.human nature人性
- 5.human body人体
Example Sentences
- 1.
The accident was caused by human error, not a mechanical fault.
- 2.
To make mistakes is only human.
- 3.
Some argue that machines will never think like a human.
Easily Confused
human vs humane — human is the neutral noun/adjective ('a human,' 'human error'). humane is moral: it means kind and compassionate (humane treatment of animals). Every humane act is human, but not every human act is humane.