您 meaning and stroke order
You (courteous, as opposed to informal 你[ni3])
How to write 您, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 您
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你[ni3])
How 您 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. You 你 said with affection 心.
Radical: 心 (heart), shared by 97 characters on this site.
How to remember 您
您 puts 你 (nǐ, you) on top of 心 (xīn, heart). When you say "you" with your heart, you are being respectful.
Use 您 for elders, teachers, customers, and people you do not know well. It is common in shops, service settings, and polite greetings. Example: 您好 (nín hǎo), hello (polite).
Common mistake: Learners often write 你 alone and forget the 心 underneath, or say nǐ with a third tone instead of the second-tone nín. Also note that 您 is pronounced with an n at the end, not ng.
您 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 您
How many strokes are in 您?
您 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 您 mean?
您 (nín) means you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你[ni3]).
How do you pronounce 您?
您 is pronounced nín, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 您?
The radical of 您 is 心, which carries the idea of "heart". Dictionaries list 您 under this radical.
Is 您 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 您 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Is there a plural form of 您 like 你们?
In standard speech, 您们 is uncommon and many people consider it awkward. To address a group politely, people usually say 你们 or use a phrase like 各位 (gèwèi), everyone.
Is it rude to use 你 instead of 您?
Not usually. 你 is normal with friends, family, and peers. Using 您 with someone your age in a casual setting can even sound distant, so match the level of formality to the situation.