民

Refers to "the people" as a socio-political category rather than as a biological or ontological species (distinguishing it from 人). Its semantic range includes:

• The Subordinate: Commoners, laborers, or those in servitude.
• The Subjects: The collective population governed by a sovereign.
• The Civilian: In attributive use, denotes non-officials or non-combatants as opposed to the military and administrative classes.

Contrast with related terms:

• 百姓 (bǎixìng): Generally describes the general populace; often more colloquial or concrete than the formal/political 民.
• 眾 (zhòng): The multitude or crowd; refers to a numerical gathering or physical mass rather than a social class.
• 庶 (shù): Often overlaps with 民, but typically emphasizes low social status or insignificance.

• Avoid Anachronism: Use caution with the term "citizen" if it implies modern legal rights or a social contract; the glyph primarily denotes position and obligation within a hierarchy.
• Register and Tone: Choose between "the people," "the subjects," "the commoners," or "the populace" based on whether the text treats the group as a resource to be managed (administrative) or a body to be nurtured (paternalistic).