pronoun HSK 1
I · me

Meaning

This is the most fundamental pronoun in Mandarin, used to refer to oneself. It's one of the very first words learned by any Chinese language student and appears in countless daily expressions.

Usage

Used in all contexts, both formal and informal. Unlike English, Chinese doesn't capitalize pronouns. Can be repeated for emphasis () in casual speech to draw attention to oneself.

Examples

  1. 01
    是学生。
    shì xuésheng.
    I am a student.
  2. 02
    爱你。
    ài .
    I love you.

Common collocations

  • shì
    I am
  • yǒu
    I have
  • jiào
    I am called / my name is

Antonyms

Origin

The character originally depicted a hand holding a weapon, symbolizing asserting oneself or self-defense, which evolved into the meaning of 'self' or 'I'.

Related