Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
咱们 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
咱们
zánmen
we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to)
HSK 3, r, 14 strokes, rank #515, Medium
咱们
zánmen
I or me
HSK 3, r, 14 strokes, rank #515, Medium
咱们
zánmen
you
HSK 3, r, 14 strokes, rank #515, Medium
咱们
zánmen
(dialect) I or me
HSK 3, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #515, Medium
咱们
zánmen
(dialect) (in a coaxing or familiar way) you
HSK 3, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #515, Medium
咱们
zánmen
also pr. [za2 men5]
HSK 3, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #515, Medium
zánmen(zan2men5)zan men T2
1we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to)
2I or me
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
咱们(咱們)zánmen(zan2men5)
The term '咱们' (zán men) means 'we' or 'us,' specifically including both the speaker and the listener. It is commonly used in informal contexts among friends or family, emphasizing a sense of togetherness or inclusivity. Unlike '我们' (wǒ men), which is more neutral, '咱们' carries a friendly, familiar tone.
Strokes14Frequency#515DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
'咱们' reflects the Chinese cultural value of community and togetherness, often used in familial or close-knit social settings. It signifies a shared identity among speakers, aligning with the importance of relationships in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Think of '咱' as representing 'us' while the '们' signifies a group. Imagine a group of friends sharing a meal, all saying 'Let's eat together!'—this shows the camaraderie and collective nature of '咱们'. Visualize a group hug to remember the inclusivity of the word.
Meanings of 咱们
zánmen(zan2men5)
1we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to)
2I or me
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 咱们 means.
About 咱们
咱们Simplified
咱們Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#515Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 咱们
Podcast: 咱们
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 咱们
Quick Contrast
我们 (wǒ men) is more neutral and formal, while 咱们 (zán men) emphasizes inclusivity and familiarity.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use '咱们' in overly formal situations, as it is primarily informal. A common mistake is using it in formal writing instead of '我们' (wǒ men). Remember that '咱们' is mainly used in northern dialects, so in southern regions, '我们' might be preferred.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, '咱们' connects with other pronouns like '我' (wǒ - I) and '他们' (tā men - they). Students should practice using it in sentences that involve direct conversation to enhance their fluency and understanding of inclusivity in dialogue.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '咱们' with '我们' and use them interchangeably, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我们' in a casual conversation may feel too distant, while '咱们' would create a warmer, more inclusive tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咱们
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 咱们, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 咱们 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 咱们?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 咱们 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
How to say we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to) in Chinese
“we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to)” in Chinese is咱们zánmen
The term '咱们' (zán men) means 'we' or 'us,' specifically including both the speaker and the listener. It is commonly used in informal contexts among friends or family, emphasizing a sense of togetherness or inclusivity. Unlike '我们' (wǒ men), which is more neutral, '咱们' carries a friendly, familiar tone.
When to use 咱们
Be careful not to use '咱们' in overly formal situations, as it is primarily informal. A common mistake is using it in formal writing instead of '我们' (wǒ men). Remember that '咱们' is mainly used in northern dialects, so in southern regions, '我们' might be preferred.
咱们 or something close to it
我们 (wǒ men) is more neutral and formal, while 咱们 (zán men) emphasizes inclusivity and familiarity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '咱们' with '我们' and use them interchangeably, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我们' in a casual conversation may feel too distant, while '咱们' would create a warmer, more inclusive tone.
Write 咱们
咱
们
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 咱们 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 咱们
咱们 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 6 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.
