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How to say “other people” in Chinese: 人家 vs 别人

人家 (rénjiā): specific person(s)/I (soften) / 别人 (biérén): other people

人家 (rén jiā) vs 别人 (bié rén) — other people vs others

HSK 6Nouns

Rule structure

人家 (rénjia) can refer to a specific person (sometimes the speaker herself) with softness or empathy. 别人 (biérén) means "other people" in a neutral sense.

Examples

人家小王都来了。 / 别管别人。

Rénjia Xiǎo Wáng dōu lái le. / Bié guǎn biérén.

Xiao Wang is already here. / Don’t mind others.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say “other people vs others” in Chinese with 人家 vs 别人?

Use the structure: 人家 (rénjiā): specific person(s)/I (soften) / 别人 (biérén): other people. For example: 人家小王都来了。 / 别管别人。 — “Xiao Wang is already here. / Don’t mind others.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

人家小王都来了。 / 别管别人。 — “Xiao Wang is already here. / Don’t mind others.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 6.

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More HSK 6 grammar rules

性 — noun suffix for characteristic

Noun / Adj. + 性 (xìng) → Abstract Noun

彼此 vs 对方 — each other vs the other party

彼此 (bǐcǐ): each other (reciprocal) / 对方 (duìfāng): the other side, counterpart

本 — your side with 本

本 (běn) + Noun (our/this)

与否 — whether or not

Verb / Adj. + 与否 (yǔfǒu) — formal "whether or not"

嘛 — self-evident statement

Statement + 嘛 (ma) — obviousness

无非 — nothing but

无非 (wúfēi) + Noun / Clause (dismissive)

以及 — as well as

Noun A + 以及 (yǐjí) + Noun B

何况 — let alone

Clause A, 何况 (hékuàng) + Clause B (even more so)