民众 mínzhòng the populace
the populace; the masses; the common people
How to remember 民众: 民 citizens + 众 multitude = the populace.
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How it is used
- The public/populace/common people - 广大民众 (guǎngdà mínzhòng) the broad masses, 民众的支持 (mínzhòng de zhīchí) public support.
- A formal term for the general public as a body; common in news and official language.
- Contrast 群众 (qúnzhòng, the masses, often with a political flavor) and 人民 (rénmín, the people, ideological); 民众 is more neutral.