令人…
HSK 6- Causative
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 令人 is used to express, in a formal register, that something causes a certain emotion or state in others.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
令人 (lìngrén) means "to make people" or "to cause people to feel." This structure carries a formal tone and is commonly used in written language or serious contexts to describe an event, news, or situation that produces a general emotion or psychological state in people.
令人 is typically followed by emotion verbs such as 高兴 (happy), 失望 (disappointed), 感动 (moved), or 惊讶 (surprised). The character 人 here refers to people in general, not any specific individual.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这个消息真令人高兴。繁: 這個消息真令人高興。Zhège xiāoxi zhēn lìng rén gāoxìng.
This news is truly delightful.
- 他的行为令人失望。繁: 他的行為令人失望。Tā de xíngwéi lìng rén shīwàng.
His behavior is disappointing.
- 这部电影的情节令人感动。繁: 這部電影的情節令人感動。Zhè bù diànyǐng de qíngjié lìng rén gǎndòng.
The plot of this film is deeply moving.
- 考试的结果令人担忧。繁: 考試的結果令人擔憂。Kǎoshì de jiéguǒ lìng rén dānyōu.
The exam results are worrying.
- 她的决定令人惊讶。繁: 她的決定令人驚訝。Tā de juédìng lìng rén jīngyà.
Her decision astonished people.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他令人我很生气。Correct:他让我很生气。
令人 describes an effect on "people" in general, not a specific object like "me"; use 让 or 使 when there is a specific object.
- Wrong:这个菜令人好吃。Correct:这个菜很好吃。
令人 typically goes with psychological or emotional verbs, not with sensory adjectives like 好吃. Direct phrasing is more natural.