Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非
物是人非

物是人非 — “Things are the same, but people are no longer the same”

物是人非 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Things are the same, but people are no longer the same”. Time has passed and circumstances have changed, often leading to a feeling of nostalgia or sadness for what once was. Literally, “Things are still, people are no more the same”.

Frequency

物是人非 Pronunciation and Pinyin

物是人非 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
物
wù8thing, matter, creature, object
是
shì9to be, yes, right
人
rén2human being, person
非
fēi8not, non-, wrong

Example Sentence with 物是人非

多年以后,他再次回到故地,看到熟悉的小院,却已感受到了物是人非的沧桑。
Many years later, he returned to his old place. Seeing the familiar small courtyard, he already felt the profound sadness of things remaining the same but people having changed.

Idioms Related to 物是人非

Synonyms of 物是人非

  • shì事guò过jìng境qiān迁things changed with time

More idioms starting with 物

  • wù物bù不píng平zé则míng鸣Injustice provokes a cry of discontent
  • wù物yǐ以xī希wéi为guì贵rarity increases value
  • wù物yǐ以xī稀wéi为guì贵Rarity increases value
  • wù物yǐ以lèi类jù聚Like attracts like
  • wù物yǐ以qún群fēn分Birds of a feather flock together
  • wù物shāng伤qí其lèi类grieve for one's kind
  • wù物lì力wéi维jiān艰resources are scarce and hard to sustain
  • wù物huá华tiān天bǎo宝splendor of nature and heavenly treasures
  • wù物gè各yǒu有zhǔ主everything has an owner
  • wù物zài在rén人wáng亡objects remain, owner gone
  • wù物jìn尽qí其yòng用make the best use of everything
  • wù物guī归yuán原zhǔ主return to its rightful owner

Recommended tools

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Questions about 物是人非

What does 物是人非 mean?

物是人非 (wù shì rén fēi) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Things are the same, but people are no longer the same”.

How do you pronounce 物是人非?

物是人非 is pronounced wù shì rén fēi in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 物是人非 literally mean?

Literally, 物是人非 means “Things are still, people are no more the same”. It is used to mean “Things are the same, but people are no longer the same”.

What is the Chinese definition of 物是人非?

东西还是原来的东西,可是人已不是原来的人了。多用于表达事过境迁。因而怀念故人。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us