The person radical: 人 and 亻

人 rén means person and is written with two strokes. On the left side of a character it becomes 亻, also two strokes, as in 你 nǐ (you), 他 tā (he), and 住 zhù (live, stay).

Two forms, both two strokes

人 is a stroke falling to the lower left plus a stroke falling to the lower right. 亻 is a short stroke falling to the left followed by a vertical. Chinese speakers often call 亻 单人旁 dānrénpáng, "single person side."

Everyday examples

• 你 nǐ: you
• 他 tā: he
• 们 men: plural marker for people, as in 我们 wǒmen (we)
• 住 zhù: live, stay
• 休 xiū: rest
• 体 tǐ: body

Several of the first words you learn contain 亻, so it is worth mastering early. None of these is read rén. 亻 suggests a connection to people, while the right side often carries the sound hint. In 住 zhù, for example, the right side 主 zhǔ is close in sound, but with a different tone.

Not every human word has 亻

The person component is a hint, not a requirement. These people words do not use it:

• 男 nán: man
• 女 nǚ: woman
• 儿 ér: child, son
• 妈 mā: mother, which uses 女

And some 亻 characters, like 但 dàn (but), have meanings that are not about people at all.

Do not confuse 人, 入, and 八

These three look alike at small sizes:

• 人 rén (person): the two strokes meet at the top, and the left stroke is the longer one leading the shape.
• 入 rù (enter): the right stroke is the taller, dominant one, with the short left stroke attached to it. You see it in 入口 rùkǒu (entrance) signs.
• 八 bā (eight): the two strokes do not touch.

A quick test: if there is a gap at the top, it is 八. If the strokes touch, check which side stands taller.

Recognition drill

For each character, say whether it contains 人 or 亻, or is a lookalike: 们 入 休 八 体 从.

Compare 亻 with the hand form 扌 in the hand radical guide, and see 休 again in the wood radical guide. The beginner guide explains why components hint at meaning without fixing it.