HSK 6 grammar · new HSK syllabus
人家: others, someone; “I” (spoken)
人家 can mean “other people”, a specific third person, or (affectionately) “me”.
Structure
- 人家 = other people / that person
- 人家 = I (spoken, intimate)
How it works
人家 often means “other people” in contrast to oneself: 人家都走了，你还在这儿.
It can also point to a specific person already mentioned: 你把书还给人家吧.
In casual speech, especially when complaining playfully, it can mean “I / me”: 人家不想去嘛.
Examples
-
人家都下班了，你怎么还在加班？
Everyone else has gone home. Why are you still working?
-
这是人家的东西，你别乱动。
That’s someone else’s; don’t touch it.
-
你借了人家的书，要按时还给人家。
You borrowed their book, so return it on time.
-
看看人家，再看看你自己。
Look at others, then look at yourself.
-
人家等你半天了！
I’ve been waiting for you for ages!
Words in these examples (27)
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 都 | dōu | all; both | HSK 1 |
| 下班 | xiàbān | to finish work | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how; why | HSK 1 |
| 还 | hái | still; also | HSK 1 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 加班 | jiābān | to work overtime | HSK 4 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 东西 | dōngxi | thing; stuff | HSK 1 |
| 别 | bié | don't | HSK 2 |
| 乱 | luàn | messy; at random | HSK 4 |
| 动 | dòng | to move | HSK 2 |
| 借 | jiè | to borrow; to lend | HSK 3 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 要 | yào | to want; will; should | HSK 1 |
| 按时 | ànshí | on time | HSK 4 |
| 给 | gěi | to give; for; to | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 |
| 自己 | zìjǐ | oneself | HSK 2 |
| 等 | děng | to wait | HSK 2 |
| 半天 | bàntiān | half a day; a long time | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗人家们
✓人家
人家 is already plural or general; no 们.
-
✗人家是我。（in formal writing）
✓我…
The “me” use is casual speech only.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 都同意了，就你不同意。
2. 这是 的手机，别拿错了。
3. 你帮了我，我一定要谢谢 。