怹 (tān) - He, she, or it (respectful third-person pronoun used

怹Tone 1

tān ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

怹 · tān

He, she, or it (respectful third-person pronoun used in Beijing dialect and some northern Chinese varieties, equivalent to respectful 'you' but for third person).

He, she, or it (respectful third-person pronoun used

Usage highlights

Respectful himHis respected selfRespectful third personBeijing dialect pronounNorthern Chinese usageFormal address

Synonyms

  • 他— he/him (standard, non-respectful)
  • 她— she/her (standard, non-respectful)
  • 它— it (standard, for objects/animals)

Antonyms

  • 你— you (informal second person)
  • 您— you (respectful second person)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please give this to him (怹).
  • How is he doing lately?(怹最近怎么样?)
  • This is his book (这是怹的书).
  • We should respect his opinion (我们应该尊重怹的意见).

Collocations

  • Respectful him(怹)
  • His respected self(怹老人家)
  • Respectful third person(尊称第三人称)
  • Beijing dialect pronoun(北京话代词)
  • Northern Chinese usage(北方用语)
  • Formal address(敬称)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily used in Beijing dialect and some northern Chinese varieties as a respectful third-person pronoun.
  • Functions similarly to 您 (nín) but for third person rather than second person.
  • Usage reflects traditional Chinese emphasis on respect and hierarchy in interpersonal relationships.
  • Becoming increasingly rare in modern usage, mostly preserved among older generations in Beijing.

FAQ