unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #13271, Very Hard
rǔ(ru3) T3
1you
2thou
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
汝rǔ(ru3)
汝 is an archaic way to say 'you' or 'thou' in Mandarin. It is rarely used in modern conversation but can be found in classical literature and poetry, giving it a formal and poetic nuance. Understanding its usage can enhance comprehension of historical texts and cultural references.
Strokes6Radical氵Frequency#13271DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
汝 reflects the influence of Confucianism and traditional Chinese literature, where respectful forms of address were commonly used. Understanding汝 can provide insights into the hierarchical nature of social interactions in historical Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river (水) flowing towards you, representing the character 汝. The radical 水 suggests fluidity and connection, reminding you that '汝' is a personal pronoun that connects the speaker directly to the listener, much like water connecting two banks.
Meanings of 汝
rǔ(ru3)
1you
2thou
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 汝 means.
About 汝
汝Simplified
6Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 汝
Podcast: 汝
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 汝
Usage Notes
汝 is considered very formal and is typically reserved for literary contexts or classical Chinese. Learners may mistakenly use it in everyday conversation, where 你 (nǐ) is preferred. Be cautious with tone, as using the wrong tone can change meaning or sound awkward.
HSK Study Tips
汝 is not included in the HSK levels, but it is beneficial for students studying classical Chinese texts. Focus on recognizing it within historical contexts, as it often appears alongside more common pronouns, enriching understanding of language evolution.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse汝 with 你 and use it in casual conversation, which sounds overly formal. For example, saying '汝好吗?' instead of '你好吗?' is incorrect in everyday contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 汝
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 汝 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 汝 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Etymology of 汝
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 女 represents the sound.
汝 = 氵 + 女. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 汝
IDS Structure⿰氵女
汝Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
女nü3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 汝?
How to say you in Chinese
“you” in Chinese is汝rǔ
汝 is an archaic way to say 'you' or 'thou' in Mandarin. It is rarely used in modern conversation but can be found in classical literature and poetry, giving it a formal and poetic nuance. Understanding its usage can enhance comprehension of historical texts and cultural references.
When to use 汝
汝 is considered very formal and is typically reserved for literary contexts or classical Chinese. Learners may mistakenly use it in everyday conversation, where 你 (nǐ) is preferred. Be cautious with tone, as using the wrong tone can change meaning or sound awkward.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse汝 with 你 and use it in casual conversation, which sounds overly formal. For example, saying '汝好吗?' instead of '你好吗?' is incorrect in everyday contexts.
Write 汝
汝
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 汝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Ask Jason
Have a question about 汝?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 汝
Words Containing This Character11
汝rǔthou
汝南Ru'nan county in Zhumadian 駐馬店|驻马店[Zhùmǎdiàn], Henan
汝州Ruzhou county level city in Pingdingshan 平頂山|平顶山[Píngdǐngshān], Henan
汝州市Ruzhou county level city in Pingdingshan 平頂山|平顶山[Píngdǐngshān], Henan
汝阳Ruyang county in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan汝陽
丁汝昌Ding Ruchang (1836-1895), commander of the Qing North China Navy
汝城Rucheng county in Chenzhou 郴州[Chēnzhōu], Hunan
汝城县Rucheng county in Chenzhou 郴州[Chēnzhōu], Hunan汝城縣
汝南县Ru'nan county in Zhumadian 駐馬店|驻马店[Zhùmǎdiàn], Henan汝南縣
汝阳县Ruyang county in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan汝陽縣
李汝珍Li Ruzhen (c. 1763-c. 1830), Qing novelist and phonologist, author of fantasy novel Jinghua Yuan 鏡花緣|镜花缘 or Flowers in the Mirror
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 汝
What does 汝南 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 汝
No,汝 is mostly found in classical literature and is not used in everyday conversation.
Common synonyms include 你 (nǐ) and 您 (nín) for 'you' in modern usage.
Use汝 primarily when reading or discussing classical texts, where it may appear, rather than in daily speech.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 汝?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
