Use “you” for the Chinese unit 你 or 你们 when the listener is the subject. Context supplies singular or plural reference.
Learn This Word
- Included in: Common 100 Words · Lesson 1 Open Lesson Start Study
you
你
The person or people being addressed.
Standard Mapping
- Chinese
- 你
- Pinyin
- nǐ
- Meaning
- 第二人称代词
- Note
- Primary second-person mapping.
Meaning and Usage
Mapping Boundary
Correct Mapping
You come tomorrow → 你明天来。
Incorrect Mapping or Split
Your come tomorrow → 你明天来。
Reason
Your is possessive; the subject token must remain you.
Chinglish Examples
You close door
Chinese Sentence
你关门。
Full Pinyin
nǐ guān mén
Natural English
You close the door.
You wait
Chinese Sentence
你等。
Full Pinyin
nǐ děng
Natural English
You wait.
You go where
Chinese Sentence
你去哪里？
Full Pinyin
nǐ qù nǎ lǐ
Natural English
Where are you going?
You want what
Chinese Sentence
你想要什么？
Full Pinyin
nǐ xiǎng yào shén me
Natural English
What do you want?
You how go school
Chinese Sentence
你怎么去学校？
Full Pinyin
nǐ zěn me qù xué xiào
Natural English
How do you go to school?
You often drink water
Chinese Sentence
你经常喝水。
Full Pinyin
nǐ jīng cháng hē shuǐ
Natural English
You often drink water.