们 (men) - Plural suffix for pronouns and some nouns referring & indicates a group of people.

们Tone 5

men ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 亻

伦妙

们 · men

Plural suffix for pronouns and some nouns referring to people;

indicates a group of people.

Plural suffix for pronouns and some nouns referringindicates a group of people.

Usage highlights

WeYouTheyEveryoneChildrenComrades

Synonyms

  • 群— group, crowd
  • 众— multitude, many

Antonyms

  • 我— I, me (singular)
  • 你— you (singular)
  • 他— he, him (singular)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We are students (我们).
  • They are teachers (他们).
  • You all are welcome (你们).
  • Friends, let's go (朋友们).

Collocations

  • We(我们)
  • You (plural)(你们)
  • They(他们)
  • They (feminine)(她们)
  • They (for objects/animals)(它们)
  • Everyone(人们)

Idioms

  • You reap what you sow(你们种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆)
  • We are all in the same boat(我们同舟共济)
  • They are birds of a feather(他们一丘之貉)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally derived from 门 (mén, door/gate), used phonetically to form plural pronouns.
  • Reflects Chinese grammar where plurality is often optional and marked only for human referents.
  • The feminine form 她们 was created in early 20th century under Western influence.

FAQ