您 nín — you (polite singular)

Meanings

1. 1

   you (polite singular)

   The respectful form of 你, used for elders, teachers, customers and strangers. Note the 心 "heart" underneath 你 — the character itself carries the courtesy.

   pronounpolite

Example sentences

• 老师，您好！/老師，您好！Lǎoshī, (third tone, dipping) nín (second tone, rising) hǎo! (third tone, dipping)···

  Hello, teacher.

• 您想喝点儿什么？/您想喝點兒什麼？Nín (second tone, rising) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) hē (first tone, high and level) diǎnr (third tone, dipping) shénme? (second tone, rising)···

  What would you like to drink?

Common mistakes

• Not quite您们好！

  Correct你们好！

  您 has no plural in standard Mandarin: 您们 is not used. Address a group with 你们, or with 大家 when speaking to a room.

Similar words