person
Definitions
An individual human being.
人；个人
In grammar, one of the three categories (first, second, third) marking who is speaking or being spoken about.
（语法）人称（第一、第二、第三人称）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedperson comes straight from Latin persōna, which traveled an unexpected road: it first named the mask an actor wore, then the role that mask played, then the role a human plays in society, and finally the human being itself. So 'person' is, etymologically, 'a mask that became a self.'
Root person still carries 15 more wordsWhy It Means This
Why does 'person' feel more individual than 'human'? Because human descends from words for 'earth-born mortal,' while person descends from persōna, the stage mask and the role behind it. That theatrical origin left person with a lingering sense of presence and identity — a person is someone with a distinct face in the crowd.
Common Collocations
- 1.in person亲自，当面
- 2.a young person年轻人
- 3.the right person合适的人选
- 4.person to person人对人地
- 5.missing person失踪人口
Example Sentences
- 1.
She is the kindest person I have ever met.
- 2.
Only one person at a time can enter the booth.
- 3.
I prefer to discuss this in person rather than over email.
- 4.
In English, 'I' is the first person and 'you' is the second person.
Easily Confused
person vs people vs persons — 'people' is the normal plural ('three people'). 'Persons' survives mainly in formal or legal English ('persons of interest,' 'unauthorized persons'). Use people in everyday writing; reserve persons for signs, law, and officialese.