当事人

dāng shì rén

persons involved or implicated; party (to an affair)

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"当事人" refers to the person or persons directly involved in a particular event, case, or dispute. It is commonly used in legal, official, or formal contexts to denote parties who have a stake or responsibility in a matter.

Common Contexts

You will often encounter "当事人" in legal discussions, negotiations, or reports about incidents where identifying the involved parties is important. It emphasizes direct involvement rather than bystanders or unrelated individuals.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 当事人 (dāngshìrén chūtíng): the party appears in court, used in legal settings.
  • 当事人协商 (dāngshìrén xiéshāng): parties negotiate, common in dispute resolution.
  • 事故当事人 (shìgù dāngshìrén): parties involved in an accident, used in police or insurance contexts.

Nuances

Using "当事人" highlights the official or formal role of the person in the matter. It is more precise than general words like "" (person) or "参与" (participant), as it implies legal or direct responsibility.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "当事人" with witnesses or observers; it specifically refers to those who are directly involved or have a stake in the issue.

Example Sentences

法庭上,当事人必须亲自出庭陈述。

Fǎtíng shàng, dāngshìrén bìxū qīnzì chūtíng chénshù.

In court, the parties involved must appear in person to make statements.

当事人之间应当通过协商解决争议。

Dāngshìrén zhī jiān yīngdāng tōngguò xiéshāng jiějué zhēngyì.

The parties involved should resolve disputes through negotiation.

警方正在调查事故的当事人和目击者。

Jǐngfāng zhèngzài diàochá shìgù de dāngshìrén hé mùjīzhě.

The police are investigating the parties involved in the accident and the