“In person” in Chinese – qīnzì

Grammar Point:
The phrase “In person” in Chinese is 親亲自 qīnzì. It refers to doing something yourself or in one’s own physical presence, rather than through a representative or by some other indirect means.

Structure

S + qīnzì + V + O

這zhè是shì我wǒ親自qīnzì做zuò的de蛋糕dàngāo这zhè是shì我wǒ亲自qīnzì做zuò的de蛋糕dàngāo
This is a cake I made personally.

你nǐ親自qīnzì去qù跟gēn他tā說shuō的de嗎ma？ 你nǐ亲自qīnzì去qù跟gēn他tā说shuō的de吗ma？
Did you personally talk to him?

他tā親自qīnzì簽qiān了le這zhè份fèn合約héyuē他tā亲自qīnzì签qiān了le这zhè份fèn合约héyuē
He personally signed this contract

你nǐ需要xūyào親自qīnzì去qù接jiē他tā嗎ma？ 你nǐ需要xūyào亲自qīnzì去qù接jiē他tā吗ma？
Do you need to pick him up yourself?

我wǒ很hěn確定quèdìng這zhè份fèn工作gōngzuò不是búshì你nǐ親自qīnzì完成wánchéng的de我wǒ很hěn确定quèdìng这zhè份fèn工作gōngzuò不是búshì你nǐ亲自qīnzì完成wánchéng的de
I’m pretty sure you didn’t complete this job yourself.

In addition to 親亲自 qīnzì, there are other phrases that can be used to emphasize personal involvement in different aspects:

親亲耳 qīn’ěr

This phrase emphasizes personally listening or hearing something.

我wǒ親耳qīněr聽到了tīngdàole他的tāde感謝gǎnxiè我wǒ亲耳qīněr听到了tīngdàole他的tāde感谢gǎnxiè
I heard his thanks with my own ears.

親亲眼 qīnyǎn

This phrase emphasizes personally seeing something.

我wǒ親眼qīnyǎn見證jiànzhèng了le這zhè一切yíqiē我wǒ亲眼qīnyǎn见证jiànzhèng了le这zhè一切yíqiē
I witnessed all of this with my own eyes.

親亲手 qīnshǒu

This phrase emphasizes personally doing something with one’s own hands.

我wǒ親手qīnshǒu製作zhìzuò了le這個zhège禮物lǐwù我wǒ亲手qīnshǒu制作zhìzuò了le这个zhège礼物lǐwù
I handmade this gift.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Thank you for personally coming to greet me.

謝謝xièxiè你nǐ親自qīnzì來lái迎接yíngjiē我wǒ谢谢xièxiè你nǐ亲自qīnzì来lái迎接yíngjiē我wǒ

✔️ This matter requires you to explain it in person.

這zhè件jiàn事shì需要xūyào請qǐng你nǐ親自qīnzì說明shuōmíng这zhè件jiàn事shì需要xūyào请qǐng你nǐ亲自qīnzì说明shuōmíng

✔️ If I didn’t hear it with my own ears, I wouldn’t believe it.

如果rúguǒ不是búshì親耳qīněr聽到tīngdào， 我wǒ不會búhuì相信xiāngxìn如果rúguǒ不是búshì亲耳qīněr听到tīngdào， 我wǒ不会búhuì相信xiāngxìn