我 你 他 · 您
I, you, he, she · + 们 for more than one · 您 = polite “you”
Structure
我／你／他／她 （+ 们） · 您 = polite 你
What it means
The pronouns: 我 I, 你 you, 他 he, 她 she. Add 们 for more than one. 您 is the polite “you”.
How it is built
Pronoun + 们 = more than one: 我们 we, 你们 you (all), 他们 they. 我们是同学 (We're classmates). Polite: 张老师，您好！ (Hello, Teacher Zhang!)
When to use it
Use 您 for older people, teachers and customers, and 你 for friends and people your age. To a group you normally say 你们 (您们 is rare). A mixed group is 他们; 她们 is only for women.
Watch out
他 and 她 both sound tā: only the writing differs. Pronouns don't change form: 我 is both “I” and “me”: 他认识我 (He knows me).
Examples
张老师，您好！
Hello, Teacher Zhang!
我们是同学，他们是老师。
We’re classmates; they’re teachers.
她们是中国人。
They (the women) are Chinese.
Learn this in 启蒙 · Lesson 7: 我喝茶 (How a sentence works)
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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