咱们
Traditional: 咱們
zán men HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

咱们一起去吧。
Zánmen yīqǐ qù ba.
Let's go together.
咱们是好朋友。
Zánmen shì hǎo péngyou.
We are good friends.
咱们明天见。
Zánmen míngtiān jiàn.
See you tomorrow.
咱们走吧。
Zánmen zǒu ba.
Let's go.
咱们吃饭。
Zánmen chīfàn.
Let's eat.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 咱们 as 'zan' (a colloquial 'us') + 'men' (plural marker), meaning 'all of us here together.' Associate it with inclusive phrases like 'Let's go!' to remember it includes the listener.

📝 Usage Notes

It is primarily used in informal, spoken Mandarin, especially in northern China. It is common in casual conversations among friends, family, or colleagues to suggest joint action or shared interest. It is generally avoided in formal writing or speeches.

📖 Grammar Points

It functions grammatically as a subject, object, or possessive (with 的) pronoun. It is often used in imperative or suggestive sentences to propose joint activities, e.g., '咱们吃饭吧' (Let's eat).

🏯 Cultural Notes

It reflects a collectivist cultural nuance, often used to build rapport, show closeness, or create a sense of unity. In southern China, 我们 is more commonly used even where 咱们 might be used in the north.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 我们 (wǒmen), which is the standard 'we' and can either include or exclude the listener, 咱们 always includes the listener. 我们 is neutral and used in all contexts, while 咱们 is more colloquial and inclusive.

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