您
you (polite)
HSK level
- Pinyin
- nín
- Part of speech
- pronoun
- Level
- HSK 2
- Strokes
- 11
- Register
- polite
Stroke order for 您
您 is written with 11 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
What does 您 mean?
您 (nín) is the polite second-person singular pronoun — the respectful version of 你 (nǐ, 'you').
Use 您 when addressing elders, teachers, customers, bosses, strangers in formal or service contexts, or anyone you want to show respect to. The character is built from 你 (you) on top and 心 (heart) on the bottom — 'you in my heart,' a respectful 'you.' Two tips for learners: first, the standard plural is 你们 (nǐmen, 'you all'), not 您们 — Mandarin generally treats the polite form as singular; for plural respect, use 各位 (gè wèi, 'everyone') or 大家 (dàjiā, 'everybody').
Second, the politeness is real and noticed — Beijing speakers in particular use 您 frequently, while southern speakers may use it less. The greeting 您好 (nín hǎo) is the polite upgrade of 你好.
Note: 您 is the polite/respectful form of 'you,' used to show deference to elders, customers, teachers, strangers in formal contexts, or anyone of higher status. Using 你 with someone who deserves 您 can sound rude; using 您 in a casual peer setting can sound stiff or distant.
Example sentences
您好，欢迎光临！
Nín hǎo, huānyíng guānglín!
Hello, welcome!
polite, service
请问，您贵姓？
Qǐng wèn, nín guì xìng?
May I ask your surname?
polite
老师，谢谢您。
Lǎoshī, xièxie nín.
Teacher, thank you.
polite
您慢走，再见。
Nín màn zǒu, zàijiàn.
Take care, goodbye.
polite
您要喝点儿什么？
Nín yào hē diǎnr shénme?
What would you like to drink?
polite, service
Common phrases with 您
Synonyms
你 is the neutral 'you,' used between equals, friends, family, and in casual settings. 您 is the polite upgrade for elders, customers, strangers in formal contexts. Pick 您 when status or politeness matters.
各位 ('everyone, each of you') is the polite plural — used when addressing a group respectfully. Since 您们 isn't standard, use 各位 or 大家 when you want a polite plural 'you.'
Don't confuse 您 with
你 is informal 'you'; 您 is polite 'you.' Same root character (你 is the top half of 您). Picking the wrong one signals tone — 您 with a friend feels distant; 你 with an elder can feel rude.
您们 is sometimes seen but is NOT standard Mandarin. The plural of 您 is 你们 or, more politely, 各位. Don't write 您们 in formal text.
宁 (níng) means 'peaceful / would rather' and looks somewhat similar in handwriting. Different pronunciation and meaning entirely.
FAQ
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