Chinese learning

Daily learning flow

Usage note

是最常见的第二人称,表示。和朋友、同学说话时经常用。

nǐ shì zuì cháng jiàn de dì èr rén chēng, biǎo shì nǐ。 hé péng yǒu 、 tóng xué shuō huà shí jīng cháng yòng。

你 is the most common second-person word and means you. It is often used when talking to friends and classmates.

Context note

常出现在问句、对话和日常交流里。

nǐ cháng chū xiàn zài wèn jù 、 duì huà hé rì cháng jiāo liú lǐ。

你 often appears in questions, conversations, and everyday communication.

5 examples

好吗?
nǐ hǎo ma?
How are you?
喜欢苹果吗?
nǐ xǐ huan píng guǒ ma?
Do you like apples?
在学校吗?
nǐ zài xué xiào ma?
Are you at school?
想喝水吗?
nǐ xiǎng hē shuǐ ma?
Do you want to drink water?
是我的朋友。
nǐ shì wǒ de péng yǒu。
You are my friend.

5 mini stories

早上妈妈笑着问:“昨晚睡得好吗?”点点头,拿起书包去上学。
Zǎoshang māma xiàozhe wèn: “Nǐ zuówǎn shuì de hǎo ma?” Nǐ diǎndiǎn tóu, ná qǐ shūbāo qù shàngxué.
In the morning, Mom smiled and asked, “Did you sleep well last night?” You nodded, picked up your schoolbag, and went to school.
在公园里,小狗跑到脚边,摇着尾巴。蹲下来,轻轻摸了摸它的头。
Zài gōngyuán lǐ, xiǎo gǒu pǎo dào nǐ jiǎo biān, yáozhe wěiba. Nǐ dūn xiàlái, qīngqīng mō le mō tā de tóu.
In the park, a little dog ran to your feet, wagging its tail. You crouched down and gently patted its head.
同桌忘了带彩笔,小声说:“能借我用一下吗?”马上打开笔盒递给她。
Tóngzhuō wàng le dài cǎibǐ, xiǎoshēng shuō: “Nǐ néng jiè wǒ yòng yīxià ma?” Nǐ mǎshàng dǎkāi bǐhé dì gěi tā.
Your deskmate forgot her colored pencils and whispered, “Can you lend me yours?” You immediately opened your pencil case and handed them to her.
超市里,帮奶奶找到了她最爱吃的饼干。奶奶高兴地说:“真是个好孩子!”
Chāoshì lǐ, nǐ bāng nǎinai zhǎodào le tā zuì ài chī de bǐnggān. Nǎinai gāoxìng de shuō: “Nǐ zhēnshi gè hǎo háizi!”
In the supermarket, you helped Grandma find her favorite cookies. Grandma happily said, “You are such a good child!”
下雨了,撑着蓝色小伞走回家。雨点打在伞上,滴答滴答,像在唱歌。
Xià yǔ le, nǐ chēngzhe lán sè xiǎo sǎn zǒu huí jiā. Yǔdiǎn dǎ zài sǎn shàng, dīdā dīdā, xiàng zài chànggē.
It started to rain, and you walked home holding a little blue umbrella. The raindrops tapped on the umbrella, pitter-patter, like singing a song.

Mini dialogue

你叫什么名字?

A
好,叫什么名字?
Nǐ hǎo, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
Hello, what is your name?
B
我叫小明。呢?
Wǒ jiào Xiǎomíng. Nǐ ne?
I'm Xiaoming. And you?

你喜欢什么?

A
喜欢苹果吗?
Nǐ xǐhuān píngguǒ ma?
Do you like apples?
B
我喜欢。呢?
Wǒ xǐhuān. Nǐ ne?
I like them. And you?

Related words and contrasts

opposite
I; me

你 means the person you are talking to; 我 means yourself.

similar
nín
you (polite)

您 is a polite form of 你, used for elders or teachers.

Explore more words