达人 (dá rén) literally combines 达 (dá), meaning 'to reach' or 'to master', and 人 (rén), meaning 'person'. Together, it signifies a person who has 'reached mastery' in a particular skill or field — an expert, connoisseur, or highly proficient practitioner. Unlike formal titles like 专家 (zhuānjiā), which emphasizes academic or professional authority, 达人 carries a more informal, enthusiastic, and often hobbyist-oriented tone. It’s widely used in modern Chinese for people who excel in niche or everyday domains — such as cooking, gaming, fashion, or even using smartphones.

The term gained popularity through internet culture and reality TV shows (e.g., 'Culinary Master'), where ordinary people demonstrate exceptional talent. It can be used with modifiers like 美食达人 (foodie expert) or 摄影达人 (photography expert), making it highly adaptable and colloquial. While respectful, it’s not overly formal — you’d say it about a friend’s baking skills, not in a corporate performance review.