人家
rén jia HSK 6

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

人家已经同意了。
Rénjia yǐjīng tóngyì le.
The other party has already agreed.
别打扰人家休息。
Bié dǎrǎo rénjia xiūxi.
Don't disturb others while they rest.
人家是专家,要尊重。
Rénjia shì zhuānjiā, yào zūnzhòng.
That person is an expert, so we should respect them.
人家很忙。
Rénjia hěn máng.
They are very busy.
别打扰人家。
Bié dǎrǎo rénjia.
Don't disturb others.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 人家 as 'that person's family/home' (人 person + 家 home) — it points to someone else's sphere or perspective, not your own.

📝 Usage Notes

It is very common in informal, spoken Chinese and appears frequently in daily conversation and narratives. It is less common in formal or academic writing. It is often used when discussing or pointing out the actions, feelings, or situations of other people.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as the subject or object in a sentence. When used to refer to the speaker themselves, it typically replaces '我' (wǒ) for stylistic effect, e.g., '人家不想去嘛' (I don't want to go).

🏯 Cultural Notes

When used for self-reference (often by women or children), it can convey a撒娇 (sājiāo - acting cute/coquettish) or slightly complaining tone, which is a common feature in informal interpersonal communication.

🔄 Similar Words

别人 (biérén) also means 'other people,' but 人家 often carries a more specific, personal, or empathetic tone, sometimes referring to a known individual. 他人 (tārén) is more formal and literary for 'others.'

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