Chinese Referring to People – 人家 rénjiā

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the term 人家 rénjiā is a versatile pronoun that can be used in various contexts to refer to different people.

Referring to Someone Else

人家rénjiā都dōu說shuō沒關係méiguānxī了le， 你nǐ就jiù別bié難過nánguò了le人家rénjiā都dōu说shuō没关系méiguānxi了le， 你nǐ就jiù别bié难过nánguò了le
People are saying it’s okay, so don’t be upset.

你nǐ看kàn人家rénjiā的de男朋友nánpéngyǒu都dōu會huì送sòng禮物lǐwù， 你nǐ都dōu不會búhuì你nǐ看kàn人家rénjiā的de男朋友nánpéngyou都dōu会huì送sòng礼物lǐwù， 你nǐ都dōu不会búhuì
Look, everyone else’s boyfriends give them gifts, but you never do.

人家rénjiā愛ài怎麼zěnme想xiǎng就jiù怎麼zěnme想xiǎng， 你nǐ不用búyòng在意zàiyì人家rénjiā爱ài怎么zěnme想xiǎng就jiù怎么zěnme想xiǎng， 你nǐ不用búyòng在意zàiyì
People will think what they want, you don’t have to worry about it.

你nǐ快kuài看看kànkàn人家rénjiā是shì怎麼zěnme做zuò的de你nǐ快kuài看看kànkàn人家rénjiā是shì怎么zěnme做zuò的de
Look at how others are doing it.

你nǐ要yào記得jìdé跟gēn人家rénjiā說shuō謝謝xièxie喔ō你nǐ要yào记得jìdé跟gēn人家rénjiā说shuō谢谢xièxie喔ō
Remember to thank her.

Referring to Myself

人家 rénjiā is also used in a self-referential manner, often to express humility, cuteness, or to soften a statement. It is commonly used by children or women, giving it a girly, shy, and tender feeling. This usage is often seen when children are being cute or when a girlfriend is talking to her boyfriend. Using it outside of these contexts might make you come across as an ‘angelic bitch.

人家rénjiā生氣shēngqì了le人家rénjiā生气shēngqì了le
I am angry now.

你nǐ不要búyào騙piàn人家rénjiā你nǐ不要búyào骗piàn人家rénjiā
Don’t lie to me.

人家rénjiā最近zuìjìn在zài減肥jiǎnféi， 所以suǒyǐ不可以bùkěyǐ吃chī那麼nàme多duō人家rénjiā最近zuìjìn在zài减肥jiǎnféi， 所以suǒyǐ不可以bùkěyǐ吃chī那么nàme多duō
I’ve been trying to lose weight lately, so I can’t eat that much.

每次měicì都dōu我wǒ輸shū， 人家rénjiā不bù玩wán了le每次měicì都dōu我wǒ输shū， 人家rénjiā不bù玩wán了le
I keep losing, I don’t want to play anymore.

好hǎo羨慕xiànmù你nǐ， 人家rénjiā都dōu沒有méiyǒu錢qián出國chūguó好hǎo羡慕xiànmù你nǐ， 人家rénjiā都dōu没有méiyǒu钱qián出国chūguó
I envy you; I don’t have money to travel at all.

Referring to Households

這zhè個ge村子cūnzi裡lǐ只zhǐ有yǒu20 戶hù人家rénjiā这zhè个ge村子cūnzi里lǐ只zhǐ有yǒu20 户hù人家rénjiā
There are only 20 households in this village.

過年guònián時shí每měi戶hù人家rénjiā都dōu會huì在zài門前ménqián貼tiē春聯chūnlián过年guònián时shí每měi户hù人家rénjiā都dōu会huì在zài门前ménqián貼tiē春联chūnlián
During New Year’s, every household puts up Spring Festival couplets on their doors.