nǐ: 你 - You

Keywords: ni, nǐ, 你, you in Chinese, how to say you in Chinese, Chinese pronoun, singular you, nǐ hǎo, 你好, learning Chinese, Chinese for beginners, nǐ vs nín

Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 你 (nǐ), the primary way to say “you” in Mandarin. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural importance, and practical use in daily conversation. Discover why choosing between the informal 你 (nǐ) and the formal 您 (nín) is crucial for showing respect, and master one of the most fundamental characters for any beginner learning Chinese.

Pinyin (with tone marks): nǐ

Part of Speech: Pronoun

HSK Level: HSK 1

Concise Definition: The second-person singular pronoun; “you”.

In a Nutshell: 你 (nǐ) is the default, standard way to say “you” in Chinese. It's informal and used ubiquitously among friends, family, peers, and in most everyday situations. It's one of the very first words you learn in Chinese, most famously as part of the greeting 你好 (nǐ hǎo), or “hello”.

Together, you can think of 亻(person) + 尔 (you) as reinforcing the meaning of “you,” a specific person being addressed.

In Chinese culture, hierarchy and respect are often encoded directly into the language. The existence of 你 (nǐ) and its formal counterpart, 您 (nín), is a prime example of this.

While English uses “you” for everyone from a close friend to a national leader, Chinese makes a clear distinction. Using 你 (nǐ) is a signal of familiarity, equality, or seniority. You use it with people you know well, people who are your age or younger, or in casual settings.

Conversely, using 你 (nǐ) with an elder, a teacher, your boss, or a respected client can be perceived as rude or overly casual. In these situations, 您 (nín) is required to show proper respect. This distinction is similar to the “tu” (informal) vs. “vous” (formal) in French or “tú” vs. “usted” in Spanish. Mastering this difference is a key step from being just a language learner to becoming a culturally aware speaker.

Informal Conversations: This is the primary domain for 你 (nǐ). You use it when talking to your friends, siblings, classmates, and colleagues of a similar rank. It's friendly, direct, and establishes a sense of closeness.

Social Media and Texting: 你 (nǐ) is the default pronoun used online, even with strangers. The digital world is inherently more casual, so using 您 (nín) can sometimes feel overly stiff unless in a formal business communication.

Addressing Children or Subordinates: It is standard to use 你 (nǐ) when speaking to someone younger than you or someone in a junior position at work.

When it becomes “safe” to switch: Often, a senior person (like a boss or teacher) might tell you, “别用'您'了，用'你'就行” (Don't use 'nín', just use 'nǐ' is fine), which is an invitation to switch to the informal pronoun and signals a closer, more relaxed relationship.

您 (nín) - The formal and polite version of “you,” used to show respect to elders, teachers, or superiors.

你们 (nǐmen) - The plural form of “you” (i.e., “you all,” “y'all”).

我 (wǒ) - The first-person pronoun (“I,” “me”), the direct counterpart to 你.

他 (tā) - The third-person singular pronoun for “he” or “him.”

她 (tā) - The third-person singular pronoun for “she” or “her.”

它 (tā) - The third-person singular pronoun for “it.”

大家 (dàjiā) - Means “everyone” or “everybody.” It's an inclusive way to address a group, often used at the beginning of a speech or announcement (e.g., 大家好 - dàjiā hǎo - hello everyone).

自己 (zìjǐ) - The reflexive pronoun “oneself.” It can be combined to form 你自己 (nǐ zìjǐ), meaning “yourself.”