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诸位 (zhū wèi) — everyone (formal, polite)

Definition

Formal/polite 'everyone' used to address a group, like 'Ladies and Gentlemen.' More formal than 大家 or 大伙儿; 各位 is a close synonym of the same register.

pronoun
everyone (formal, polite)

Examples

  • 诸位。
    zhū wèi Qǐng zuò.
    Everyone please sit down.
  • 诸位？
    zhū wèi Yǒu shén me wèn tí ma?
    Does anyone have any questions?
  • 诸位。
    Zài cì gǎn xiè zhū wèi de bāng zhù.
    Thank you all again for your help.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

诸zhūall
位wèiperson

诸 means all and 位 refers to people, so the whole politely addresses everyone.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 諸; 诸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě諸zhū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 諸 pairs 言 (speech) with 者; 者 gives the sound.

Open 诸 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì位wèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

位 combines 人 (man), related to people, with 立, which gives the sound. It was often simply written as 立.

Open 位 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Greetings & PolitenessPeople (General)

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