ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-137.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 


When describing others, we can use the word 人家  (rénjia) or 别人 (biéren). But 人家 also has other grammatical uses, which we will explore in this article.  

== Both mean "others" ==

人家 and 别人 both refer to others besides the speaker and the listener. However, 人家 is more colloquial. 

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Verb + 人家／别人
</div>

=== Examples ===

These sentences mean the same thing:

<div class="liju">
* 我 不 在乎 <em>人家</em> 怎么 说。<span class="expl">Slightly more colloquial</span>
* 我 不 在乎 <em>别人</em> 怎么 说。<span class="trans">I don't care what other people say.</span>
</div>

== 人家 can mean "I" ==

人家 can be used to refer to yourself, and it is often used this way by women, giving it a sort of girly, shy, tender feeling.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
人家 + [Rest of Sentence]
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 因为 <em>人家</em> 喜欢 你 嘛。<span class="trans">Because I like you!</span>
* 讨厌，老是 拿 <em>人家</em> 开玩笑 。<span class="trans">You meanie, always making fun of me.</span>
</div>

== 人家 can mean a certain "him" or "her" ==

人家 can also refer to someone previously referred to (in the context of the conversation or body of text) or it can refer to a certain someone that both the speaker and listener know.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + Verb + 人家
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 你 快 去 给 <em>人家</em> 道歉。<span class="trans">Quickly go and apologize to her.</span>
* 你 看 <em>人家</em> 升职 升 得 多 快，你呢？<span class="trans">You see him getting promoted quickly. What about you?</span>
</div>

== 人家 can mean "residents" ==

人家 can also mean residents or inhabitants.

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 这里 很 少 有 <em>人家</em> 。<span class="trans">There are very few residents here.</span>
* 前面 有 一 户 <em>人家</em>，我们 去 看看 吧 。<span class="trans">There's a family out front. Let's go see them.</span>
</div>

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (人家vs别人 p.81) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]

*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (人家p.463) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]

=== Dictionaries ===
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (人家1145) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]

[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|人家|B1|人家 vs 别人|因为 <em>人家</em> 喜欢 你 嘛。我 不 在乎 <em>别人</em> 怎么 说。|grammar point|ASGPINA4}}
{{Rel char|别人}}
{{Used for|Describing people}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Comparison|Nouns}}