Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

person; employee; member

Chinese: 人员、成员。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “yuan” becomes a different word in each tone. 员 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 服务员fú wù yuánwaiter; waitress; attendant; customer service personnel
  • 人员rén yuánstaff; crew; personnel
  • 成员chéng yuánmember
  • 演员yǎn yuánactor; actress; performer
  • 队员duì yuánteam member

Example Sentence

他是我们公司的新员工。Tā shì wǒ men gōng sī de xīn yuán gōng.He is a new employee of our company.

heshìis我们wǒ menwe公司gōng sīcompanydeofxīnnew员工yuán gōngstaff

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

口 over 贝 (a tripod/round shell): originally ‘round’ (now 圓). Borrowed for ‘a member; a person in a role’ (员工, 演员, 成员). Simplified from 員.

A way to remember it

A person in a role: 员工 (staff), 演员 (actor).