Meaning
个人 refers to an individual person as distinct from a group, organization, or collective. It can function as a noun meaning 'individual' or as an adjective meaning 'personal' or 'private,' often contrasting with collective or public matters.
Usage
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. As an adjective, it typically precedes the noun it modifies (个人意见 'personal opinion'). In modern Chinese, it's frequently used to distinguish personal matters from work, public, or organizational affairs. Native speakers often use it when discussing privacy, individual rights, or personal belongings.
Examples
- 01这只是我的个人看法，不代表公司的立场。, .This is just my personal view and doesn't represent the company's position.
- 02每个人都有保护个人隐私的权利。.Everyone has the right to protect their personal privacy.
Characters
Common collocations
- 个人意见personal opinion
- 个人隐私personal privacy
- 个人电脑personal computer (PC)
- 个人信息personal information
Antonyms
Origin
个 (gè) is the most common measure word in Mandarin, and when combined with 人 (person), it literally means 'one person' or 'individual person.' The compound evolved to mean both the noun 'individual' and the adjective 'personal.'