尔 (ěr) - you (archaic/formal) & that

尔Tone 3

ěr ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 小

恩丰

尔 · ěr

you (archaic/formal);

that;

such;

suffix indicating state or manner.

you (archaic/formal)thatsuch

Usage highlights

YouJust soAt that timeYou allSuddenThus

Synonyms

  • 你— you (modern)
  • 汝— you (archaic)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • You (archaic) (尔等 - you all).
  • Such is the case (不过尔尔 - just so-so).
  • That kind of (尔时 - at that time).
  • Used in transliteration (达尔文 - Darwin).

Collocations

  • You (archaic)(尔)
  • Just so-so(不过尔尔)
  • At that time(尔时)
  • You all (archaic)(尔等)
  • Sudden(偶尔)
  • Thus(乃尔)

Idioms

  • Just so-so(不过尔尔)
  • Out of the blue(出尔反尔)
  • New Year's Eve(除夕之夜，尔雅温文)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally an archaic second-person pronoun, now mostly used in formal/literary contexts.
  • Commonly appears in classical Chinese texts and historical dramas.
  • Used in modern Chinese mainly in set phrases and transliterations.

FAQ