一分钟英语

用法辨析：person 和 people

内容简介

名词 “person/persons、people/peoples” 的基本含义都是 “人”，但它们之间的具体区别是什么？“Person” 和 “persons”，哪一个更加书面化？名词 “peoples” 的特殊含义是什么？看 “一分钟英语” 视频，学习分辨这四种 “人” 之间的区别。

文字稿

Dan

Hi, I’m Dan from BBC Learning English and today I’m going to talk to you about person and persons, people and peoples.

A person is a human man, woman, or child. It is a singular countable noun. There was one person at the door.

The plural of person is people. It refers to a group or a number of human beings. It is a plural countable noun. There were three people at the door.

So how about persons?

Persons is a plural countable noun. It's similar to people, but it's considered more polite and more formal. It’s most often seen written down. This lift can hold a maximum of 15 persons.

And peoples?

Peoples is the countable plural form of people and comes from the other meaning of people. People can mean nation. The Aztecs were a people that lived in the Americas. Or, there are many peoples living on the Earth. They are all human - so far.

用法总结

Person, persons, people and peoples

1 Person
A person is a human man, woman, or child. It is a singular countable noun. 
一个 “person” 可以是一个男人、女人或小孩，它是单数名词。

There was one person at the door.

When did you see this suspicious person?

She's a very interesting person. You should talk to her.

2 People 
The plural of person is people. It refers to a group or a number of human beings. It is a plural countable noun.
“People” 是 “person” 的复数形式，指一组人或一些人。“People” 是复数名词。

There were three people at the door.

How many people do you know?

The people who live here are very rich.

3 People and peoples
People can also mean nation. Peoples is the plural form of this meaning. Peoples means nations.
“People” 也可以表示 “民族”。“Peoples” 是 “people” 表达这个意思时的复数形式。“Peoples” 的意思是 “多个民族”。

The Aztecs were a people that lived in the Americas.

The English are a creative people.

There are many peoples living on the Earth.

When the peoples of the Earth unite, we will have peace.

4 Persons
Persons is a more formal, more polite form of people. It's a plural countable noun and is most often seen written down - such as on signs, in newspapers and in the context of the law.
“Persons” 是 “people” 更正式、更礼貌的说法。它是复数名词，多用于书面语中，比如在标语上、报纸上和法律文件中。

This lift can hold a maximum of 15 persons.

The police expect to catch the persons responsible for the theft.

My client has never seen these persons before and so he is innocent.