你们 (nǐ men) — you (plural) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Plural 'you' for two or more people. It's the plural of 你; use 您 for polite singular, and 咱们 for 'we' including the listener.

pronoun

you (plural)

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

The 你 plus 们 refers to more than one 'you'.

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.

亻尔你

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

尔

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 亻 is a person, and the right part 尔 supplies the sound.

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 們; 们 is its simplified writing.

亻門們

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

門

門mén們men

Same sound today

The traditional form 們 uses 亻 for a person and 門 for the sound; the simplified 们 is a later shorthand.

Appears in