我們

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pronoun

我們

1. (chiefly Mandarin, Gan, Jin, Changsha Xiang) we; us

   我們是朋友。／我们是朋友。  ―  Wǒmen shì péngyǒu.  ―  We are friends.

   他跟我們不一樣。 [MSC, trad.]
   他跟我们不一样。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā gēn wǒmen bùyīyàng.

   He is different to us.

   我們到時候再說吧。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们到时候再说吧。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen dàoshíhòu zàishuō ba.

   Let's wait and see.

   我們的汽車尾巴被撞壞了。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们的汽车尾巴被撞坏了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen de qìchē wěiba bèi zhuànghuài le.

   The rear end of our car was smashed.

   最終我們都活成了自己討厭的樣子。 [MSC, trad.]
   最终我们都活成了自己讨厌的样子。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zuìzhōng wǒmen dōu huó chéng le zìjǐ tǎoyàn de yàngzi.

   In the end we all lived to become people we despised.

   • 今日我們傳你來，有遵旨問你的事。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     今日我们传你来，有遵旨问你的事。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE

     Jīnrì wǒmen chuán nǐ lái, yǒu zūnzhǐ wèn nǐ de shì.

     We called you here today, because we'd like to follow the emperor's order and ask you some questions.

2. (academic writing) we; us (referring to the author(s) of the paper, even if the paper has only one author)
   • 2020, 杨琳, “流行的词源误说辨正”, in 励耘语言学刊, number 2:

     我们认为“消”的需要义是自身引申出来的。 [MSC, simp.]
     我們認為“消”的需要義是自身引申出來的。 [MSC, trad.]

     Wǒmen rènwéi “xiāo” de xūyào yì shì zìshēn yǐnshēn chūlái de.

     We believe that the sense of “need” of 消 xiāo is self-extended.

Usage notes

我們／我们 (wǒmen) can be used in both formal or colloquial speech and can either include or exclude the person being spoken to. In Northern China, 我們／我们 (wǒmen) is generally used in the exclusive sense while 咱們／咱们 (zánmen) is used for the inclusive sense.

Synonyms

• (self-reference of the writer(s)): 筆者／笔者 (bǐzhě) (used in both academic and general writings)

Derived terms

See also