nín
pronoun HSK 1 #230

Meanings

  1. 1 you (formal/polite)

Characters

(you) + (heart) — 'you' with heart, showing respect.

Examples

您好
Nínhǎo!
Hello! (polite)
Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?
May I ask your surname?
Nín qǐngzuò.
Please have a seat.

Tips

history
is (you) with (heart) underneath — addressing someone with your heart, showing respect.
usage
Use with elders, teachers, customers, and anyone you want to show respect to. In Beijing, is used much more frequently than in southern China.

Components

radical
xīn
heart
Heart radical at the bottom — is 'you, with my heart underneath' — addressing someone with sincerity and respect. A late-coined character (Yuan/Ming era) specifically to convey this nuance; the heart isn't decorative but the very source of the politeness.
phonetic
you (singular)
sits on top — both supplies the sound ( nǐ → nín) and provides the 'you' semantics. is a polite/formal upgrade of : the same word, lifted onto a heart, expressing respect. Used for elders, teachers, customers, strangers.

Stroke Order

nín