The Hanja character 民 represents the concept of “the common people” or “the masses” in both the Korean and Chinese languages. In Korean, it is pronounced as “백성” (baekseong), while in Chinese, it is pronounced as “mín.” The character 民 visually depicts a person with arms outstretched, representing a crowd or a gathering of people.

The character 民 symbolizes the general population, ordinary citizens, or the commoners. It represents the collective body of individuals who are not part of the ruling class or nobility. The character 民 embodies the idea of the people as a social and political entity and is associated with concepts such as democracy, equality, and the voice of the majority.

In both Korean and Chinese cultures, the character 民 holds significance as it reflects the importance of the common people in shaping society and governance. It represents the idea that the well-being and interests of the masses should be considered and protected.

The character 民 is commonly used in various contexts related to society, politics, and governance. It can appear in words and phrases referring to the people, citizens, or public matters. For example, 民主 (민주) represents “democracy” (literally, “people” + “rule”), 民意 (민의) refers to “public opinion” (literally, “people” + “intention”), and 民族 (민족) represents an “ethnic group” or “nationality” (literally, “people” + “race”).

In summary, the Hanja character 民 (백성 민) represents the concept of “the common people” or “the masses” in Korean and Chinese languages. It symbolizes the general population, ordinary citizens, and the collective body of individuals who are not part of the ruling class. The character reflects the importance of the people in shaping society and governance, and it is used in various contexts related to society, politics, and public matters.