您 nín you (polite)
How to remember 您: 你 you + 心 heart = you (polite). The intern greets the old boss with a casual you, and a colleague clutches her heart and hisses "Say you (polite)!"
Component breakdown
您 = 你 you + 心 heart
- 你 you
- 亻 person
- 尔 you
- 心 heart
The intern greets the old boss with a casual you, and a colleague clutches her heart and hisses "Say you (polite)!"
How it is used
- The polite 'you' - 您好 (nín hǎo) hello (respectful), used for elders, customers, superiors, or strangers you want to honor.
- It's the courteous counterpart of 你 (nǐ); overusing it among peers/friends can sound stiff or distancing.
- There's no widely accepted plural 您们 - use 你们 or 各位 (gèwèi) for a group.
Example sentences
- 谢谢您。 Xièxie nín.Thank you!
- 您贵姓？ Nín guìxìng?What's your surname please?
- 请出示您的护照。 Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào.Please show your passport.
- 房间为您安排好了。 Fángjiān wèi nín ānpái hǎo le.The room has been arranged for you.