'ginseng' originates from Chinese, specifically the word 'rénshēn' (人参), where 'rén' meant 'person' and 'shēn' meant 'root'.

'ginseng' entered European languages in the early modern period (via forms in Dutch, German and French such as 'ginseng') from Chinese 'rénshēn', and was borrowed into English as 'ginseng'.

Initially, the term literally reflected 'person-root' (a reference to roots sometimes resembling the human form); over time it came to mean 'the medicinal root (or plant) of Panax species' in general.