gèwèi: 各位 - Everyone, Ladies and Gentlemen, All of You

• Keywords: 各位, gèwèi, how to say everyone in Chinese, 各位 vs 大家, formal address in Chinese, ladies and gentlemen in Chinese, Chinese for 'all of you', polite Chinese pronouns, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to use “各位 (gèwèi)”, the polite and essential Chinese term for addressing a group, similar to “everyone” or “ladies and gentlemen.” This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in speeches, business, and announcements, contrasting it with the more casual “大家 (dàjiā)”. Perfect for beginners looking to sound more respectful and natural in formal situations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gè wèi
• Part of Speech: Pronoun
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: A polite pronoun used to address a group of people; “everyone,” “all of you,” “ladies and gentlemen.”
• In a Nutshell: Think of `各位` as a respectful “you all” or “everybody.” It's the go-to term when you need to address an audience with a degree of formality and respect. You'll hear it constantly in speeches, company meetings, service announcements, and formal events. It elevates the tone beyond a simple “hey everyone,” acknowledging the importance of the people you are speaking to.

• 各 (gè): This character means “each” or “every.” It's composed of 夂 (to go) over 口 (mouth), which can be imagined as a command or statement going out to each individual person.
• 位 (wèi): This is a polite measure word for people. While `个 (ge)` is the general-purpose measure word for people, `位` is reserved for situations where you want to show respect. It's made of the person radical (亻) and 立 (to stand), suggesting a person of standing or position.

Combining “each” (各) with the “polite measure word for a person” (位) creates a term that addresses “each respected person” in a group. This is why `各位` carries an inherent sense of politeness and formality.

`各位` is more than just a pronoun; it's a reflection of Chinese cultural norms that prioritize respect (礼貌, lǐmào) and situational appropriateness. In English, one might casually say “Hey everyone” to a room of colleagues before a presentation. In Chinese, starting with `各位` is standard practice and establishes a professional, respectful atmosphere from the outset. Comparison to Western Culture: `各位` occupies a space between the very casual “everyone/everybody” and the very formal “ladies and gentlemen.”

• “Everyone” can be used in almost any context in English.
• “Ladies and gentlemen” is often reserved for highly formal or ceremonial events.

`各位` is the default for what might be called “professional-polite” situations in China. It's not overly stuffy, but it clearly signals that the speaker is taking the situation and the audience seriously. Using it correctly shows that you understand social etiquette and are making an effort to be respectful, which is crucial for building good relationships (关系, guānxi).

`各位` is extremely common in any situation involving public or group address.

• Speeches and Presentations: It's a standard opening for almost any speech. You often hear it combined with the title of the audience members, such as `各位老师 (gèwèi lǎoshī)` for “teachers” or `各位同学 (gèwèi tóngxué)` for “students.”
• Business Settings: In meetings, it's used to address colleagues, clients, or partners. “各位同事 (gèwèi tóngshì)…” (Hello colleagues…).
• Service Industry and Announcements: This is where you'll hear it most frequently as a customer. On planes, trains, in subways, and in department stores, announcements almost always begin with `各位乘客 (gèwèi chéngkè)` (Dear passengers) or `各位顾客 (gèwèi gùkè)` (Dear customers).
• Formal Communications: In a group email to a department or a formal WeChat group message, starting with `各位好 (gèwèi hǎo)` is a polite and professional salutation.

Its connotation is neutral-to-positive and its formality is moderate—it's the polite standard.

• Example 1:
  • 各位来宾，晚上好！欢迎大家来到我们的晚宴。
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi láibīn, wǎnshang hǎo! Huānyíng dàjiā láidào wǒmen de wǎnyàn.
  • English: Good evening, distinguished guests! Welcome everyone to our banquet.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, formal opening for an event. `来宾 (láibīn)` means “guests,” and pairing it with `各位` is the standard, respectful way to address attendees.
• Example 2:
  • 飞机即将起飞，请各位乘客系好安全带。
  • Pinyin: Fēijī jíjiāng qǐfēi, qǐng gèwèi chéngkè jì hǎo ānquándài.
  • English: The plane is about to take off, would all passengers please fasten their seatbelts.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of a service announcement. `乘客 (chéngkè)` means “passengers.” This is polite, clear, and standard across all forms of public transport in China.
• Example 3:
  • 各位同事，关于下个季度的计划，我有一些想法。
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi tóngshì, guānyú xià ge jìdù de jìhuà, wǒ yǒu yīxiē xiǎngfǎ.
  • English: Colleagues, regarding next quarter's plan, I have a few ideas.
  • Analysis: This is a typical way to begin speaking in a business meeting. It's professional and respectful toward your coworkers (`同事`, tóngshì).
• Example 4:
  • 各位同学，请把书翻到第五十页。
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi tóngxué, qǐng bǎ shū fān dào dì wǔshí yè.
  • English: Fellow students, please turn your books to page 50.
  • Analysis: A teacher addressing a class. While a teacher could also use the more direct `你们 (nǐmen)`, using `各位同学` is slightly more formal and common in a university or high school setting.
• Example 5:
  • 感谢各位的支持，我们的活动取得了圆满成功！
  • Pinyin: Gǎnxiè gèwèi de zhīchí, wǒmen de huódòng qǔdéle yuánmǎn chénggōng!
  • English: Thanks to everyone's support, our event was a complete success!
  • Analysis: Here, `各位` is used to thank a group of people (supporters, volunteers, attendees). It conveys sincere and formal appreciation.
• Example 6:
  • 各位好，我是今天面试的主考官。
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi hǎo, wǒ shì jīntiān miànshì de zhǔkǎoguān.
  • English: Hello everyone, I am the lead interviewer for today's interviews.
  • Analysis: Used as a salutation (`各位好`) to address a group of interview candidates. It sets a professional but welcoming tone.
• Example 7:
  • 主持人：各位观众，欢迎收看我们的节目！
  • Pinyin: Zhǔchírén: Gèwèi guānzhòng, huānyíng shōukàn wǒmen de jiémù!
  • English: Host: To our audience, welcome to our show!
  • Analysis: `观众 (guānzhòng)` means “audience” or “viewers.” This is the standard way a TV or live show host would address the people watching.
• Example 8:
  • 如果各位有什么问题，请随时提问。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ gèwèi yǒu shénme wèntí, qǐng suíshí tíwèn.
  • English: If any of you have any questions, please feel free to ask at any time.
  • Analysis: A common phrase at the end of a presentation or lecture, inviting questions from the audience in a polite manner.
• Example 9:
  • 在此，我代表公司向各位表示衷心的感谢！
  • Pinyin: Zài cǐ, wǒ dàibiǎo gōngsī xiàng gèwèi biǎoshì zhōngxīn de gǎnxiè!
  • English: Here, on behalf of the company, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you!
  • Analysis: A very formal sentence used in a speech or official letter. `向各位表示… (xiàng gèwèi biǎoshì…)` is a formal structure meaning “to express… to all of you.”
• Example 10:
  • 各位网友，你们对这件事怎么看？
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi wǎngyǒu, nǐmen duì zhè jiàn shì zěnme kàn?
  • English: Fellow netizens, what do you all think about this matter?
  • Analysis: This shows `各位` being adapted for online use. `网友 (wǎngyǒu)` means “netizen” or “online friend.” A blogger or influencer might use this to address their followers in a slightly formal but engaging way.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between `各位` and `大家 (dàjiā)`.

• `各位` (gèwèi): Polite, Respectful, More Formal.
  • Use when you are in a role of authority (teacher, manager, host) or when you want to show respect to an audience (customers, guests, colleagues in a formal meeting).
  • Using `各位` with close friends or in a very casual setting would sound strange and create distance.
  • Incorrect: (At a casual BBQ with 5 close friends) `各位，谁要喝啤酒？(Gèwèi, shéi yào hē píjiǔ?)`
  • Why it's wrong: This is too formal. It sounds like you're giving a speech. You should use `大家 (dàjiā)` or `你们 (nǐmen)`.
• `大家` (dàjiā): Casual, Friendly, Inclusive.
  • Use with friends, family, or in informal group settings. It creates a feeling of “we're all in this together.”
  • It can also be used in less formal work or public settings, and its use is becoming more widespread. However, `各位` remains the safer, more respectful choice for formal business and public announcements.
  • Correct (Casual): `大家晚上想吃什么？ (Dàjiā wǎnshang xiǎng chī shénme?)` - “What does everyone want to eat tonight?”

Think of it this way: `各位` addresses a collection of respected individuals (`各` + `位`), while `大家` addresses a single, unified group (`大` + `家` - big family).

• 大家 (dàjiā) - The most common and casual word for “everyone”; a direct counterpart to `各位` in informal contexts.
• 你们 (nǐmen) - The direct plural “you.” Less formal than `各位` and used when speaking directly to a specific, often smaller, group.
• 女士们先生们 (nǚshìmen xiānshengmen) - “Ladies and gentlemen.” A very formal, often ceremonial phrase, usually reserved for international events or formal banquets. It's a direct loan translation.
• 尊敬的 (zūnjìng de) - “Respected” or “esteemed.” An adjective often placed before `各位` to add a higher level of formality, e.g., `尊敬的各位领导 (zūnjìng de gèwèi lǐngdǎo)` - “Respected leaders.”
• 朋友们 (péngyoumen) - “Friends.” A warm and friendly way to address an audience, often used by public figures or performers to build rapport.
• 同志们 (tóngzhìmen) - “Comrades.” Carries heavy political/historical weight from the communist era. Rarely used in general public address today, except in Party meetings or historical contexts.
• 位 (wèi) - The polite measure word for people that is the foundation of `各位`'s respectful tone.
• 来宾 (láibīn) - “Guests,” specifically those who have come to an event. Frequently used after `各位` (e.g., `各位来宾`).