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March 24, 2026
尔(尒)ěr(er3)
The character 尔 (ěr) is a variant of 爾 and primarily means 'you' or 'that'. It is often used in classical Chinese texts and can also serve as a final particle. While it may not be commonly used in modern spoken Mandarin, it appears in literary contexts and idiomatic expressions.
Strokes5Radical小Frequency#930DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The use of 尔 is often seen in classical poetry and literature, reflecting a more formal and respectful way of addressing someone. This ties back to the historical emphasis on respect and hierarchy in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fancy old scroll where a wise scholar points at you and says '尔', which sounds a bit like 'air' but is much more formal. The character's simple form can be visualized as a figure addressing you, making it easier to remember its meaning as 'you'.
Meanings of 尔
ěr(er3)
1thus
2so
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About 尔
尔Simplified
尒Traditional
5Strokes
小Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#930Frequency Rank
Podcast: 尔
Podcast: 尔
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AI Study Notes for 尔
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fancy old scroll where a wise scholar points at you and says '尔', which sounds a bit like 'air' but is much more formal. The character's simple form can be visualized as a figure addressing you, making it easier to remember its meaning as 'you'.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 尔 with more common words for 'you' like 你 (nǐ). It's important to understand that 尔 is more formal and is rarely used in everyday conversation. Watch out for its usage primarily in literary contexts or classical texts.
HSK Study Tips
Though 尔 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of classical texts at higher levels. Focus on recognizing it in readings and differentiate it from contemporary pronouns.
Cultural Note
The use of 尔 is often seen in classical poetry and literature, reflecting a more formal and respectful way of addressing someone. This ties back to the historical emphasis on respect and hierarchy in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners may incorrectly use 尔 in everyday conversations, thinking it can replace 你. For example, saying '尔好' instead of '你好' is incorrect; the correct phrase is 你好 (nǐ hǎo).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 尔
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Grammar Patterns of 尔
尔 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Switzerland isn't all cow bells and yodelling, you know.
9
“你不需要那么做，”珀尔斩钉截铁地说道。
“ “ nǐ bù xū yào nà mó，” zuò ，” pò ěr zhǎn dīng jié tiě dì。
"You don't need to do that," said Pearl assertively.
10
我来上菜，你把帕尔马干酪磨碎。
wǒ lái shàng cài， ， nǐ bǎ pà ěr mǎ gān lào mó。
I'll dish up and you can grate the Parmesan.
Cultural Notes for 尔
💡Did you know?
"尔"这个字在古代文学中常用于诗词，体现了古汉语的高雅和文人气息。
🏮Cultural insight
The use of 尔 is often seen in classical poetry and literature, reflecting a more formal and respectful way of addressing someone. This ties back to the historical emphasis on respect and hierarchy in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 尔
Compounds13
你ni3you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您[nín])
称chen4to fit
弥mi2full
妳nai3you (female)
玺xi3imperial signet, royal signet
迩er3near, close; recent
祢Mi2one's deceased father
狝
鉨
沵
珎
覙
趂
Words Containing This Character20
尔ěrthus爾
偶尔ǒu’ěroccasionally偶爾
高尔夫golf (loanword)高爾夫
哈尔滨Harbin, subprovincial city and capital of Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hēilóngjiāng] in northeast China哈爾濱
尔 (ěr) is not commonly used in modern spoken Chinese, as it is more prevalent in classical literature. In contemporary usage, people primarily use 你 (nǐ) for 'you'. However, you may encounter 尔 in historical texts or poetry.
The main difference between 尔 (ěr) and 你 (nǐ) is their usage context. 尔 is an archaic form often found in classical literature, while 你 is the standard term for 'you' in modern Mandarin. Therefore, 尔 carries a more formal or poetic tone.
尔 (ěr) is a variant of the character 爾 and can mean 'you' or 'thou'. It is often used in classical Chinese literature. In modern contexts, it can also imply 'so' or 'like that'.
To use 尔 (ěr) in a sentence, you can incorporate it as a form of address. For example, in classical texts, you might say '尔何为?' which translates to 'What are you doing?'. It's important to note that this usage is more common in literary contexts than in everyday conversation.
No, 尔 is primarily used in literary and classical contexts rather than in everyday speech.
尔 is a more formal and archaic way to say 'you', while 你 is the standard modern term.
