人家
other people; that person (someone just mentioned); playfully, “I”
Structure
人家 + 动词 · 你看人家 + …… · 人家 + 名字
What it means
人家 (rén jia) means someone who is neither you nor your listener: other people in general, or a person just mentioned. Said about yourself in a sulky or teasing voice, it means “I”.
How it is built
人家 + verb: 人家都下班了，你怎么还在忙？ (everyone else has gone home; why are you still working?). For a person just mentioned: 你把书还给人家了吗？ (have you given the book back to her?).
When to use it
Spoken. 你看人家！ holds someone up as an example: “Look at him!”. Meaning “I”, it is used mostly by women and children, playfully or sulkily.
Watch out
人家 leaves out you and your listener; 大家 is “everyone, us included”, and 自己 is “oneself”. Say it rén jia, with the second syllable light.
Examples
人家都下班了，你怎么还在忙？
Everyone else has gone home. Why are you still working?
不要看人家的手机，这样没有礼貌。
Don’t look at other people’s phones; it’s rude.
你把书还给人家了吗？
Have you given the book back to her?
你怎么才来？人家等了你半天！
Why are you only getting here now? I’ve been waiting for ages!
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 16: 亲戚 (Meeting the relatives)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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