Meanings of 們
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Podcast: 們
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AI Study Notes for 們
你們 (nǐmen - you plural) vs 咱們 (zánmen - we inclusive): Use 們 (men) with 你 (you) to indicate plurality, while 咱們 (zánmen) is specifically for inclusive 'we'.
A common mistake is to incorrectly apply 們 to nouns that do not typically take a plural form, such as in '桌子們' (zhuōzi men - 'the tables') which is incorrect. Instead, use it with pronouns or animate nouns like '學生們' (xuéshēng men - 'the students'). Remember that this marker is informal and primarily used in spoken Mandarin.
While 們 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, understanding its function is crucial for HSK 1 and 2, where personal pronouns are frequently used. Focus on practicing sentences with both singular and plural forms to see the differences.
Learners often mistakenly add 們 to non-animate nouns, such as '車們' (chē men - 'the cars'), which is incorrect. The correct term should simply be '車' (chē) without the plural marker.
Pronunciation of 們
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Etymology of 們
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound.
people
Origin
們 = 亻 + 門. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 們
Parts
Which of these is part of 們?
How to say plural marker for pronouns and some nouns in Chinese
“plural marker for pronouns and some nouns” in Chinese is們
The character 們 (men) is a plural marker used primarily for personal pronouns and certain nouns in Mandarin Chinese. It indicates that the subject is more than one person, such as in 我們 (wǒmen - we) or 他們 (tāmen - they). It's important to note that not all nouns can take this plural marker, and its usage is mainly restricted to pronouns and some animate nouns.
When to use 們
A common mistake is to incorrectly apply 們 to nouns that do not typically take a plural form, such as in '桌子們' (zhuōzi men - 'the tables') which is incorrect. Instead, use it with pronouns or animate nouns like '學生們' (xuéshēng men - 'the students'). Remember that this marker is informal and primarily used in spoken Mandarin.
們 or something close to it
你們 (nǐmen - you plural) vs 咱們 (zánmen - we inclusive): Use 們 (men) with 你 (you) to indicate plurality, while 咱們 (zánmen) is specifically for inclusive 'we'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly add 們 to non-animate nouns, such as '車們' (chē men - 'the cars'), which is incorrect. The correct term should simply be '車' (chē) without the plural marker.
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Word Family of 們
Words with 們
What does 我们 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 們
No, 們 is specifically used with personal pronouns and certain animate nouns. It cannot be used with inanimate objects.
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