平易近人

Pronunciation: píng yì jìn rén Literal meaning: Level and easy to approach

Origin & Usage

The Records of the Grand Historian describes a ruler as 平易近民 — level and easy, and close to the people — his administration plain enough that people came to him of their own accord. 民 became taboo under the Tang, whose second emperor was named Li Shimin, and the phrase was rewritten with 人, which is the form still in use. Level (平易) and approachable (近人) is therefore about obstacles removed rather than about warmth. Seniors who have not put distance between themselves and everybody else earn it, and it is high praise precisely because rank makes it optional.

Examples

English: "Despite his fame, the professor remains approachable to students."

Chinese: 尽管名声很大，这位教授对学生仍然平易近人。