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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to other people or a household with 人家 (rénjiā)

    Topic & Focus

    Structure

    人家 + Noun/Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    The word 人家 (rénjiā) means "other people," "someone else," or "a household" depending on context. It is a versatile colloquial term that can refer to another person in a general or slightly emphatic way, or it can mean someone's home or family.

    Examples

    • 人家都已经走了，你怎么还不动？

      Rénjia dōu yǐjīng zǒu le, nǐ zěnme hái bú dòng?

      Everyone has already left — why haven't you moved yet?

    • 别拿人家的东西，这样不好。

      Bié ná rénjia de dōngxi, zhèyàng bù hǎo.

      Don't take other people's things — that's not right.

    • 山脚下有几户人家。

      Shānjiǎo xià yǒu jǐ hù rénjia.

      There are a few households at the foot of the mountain.