别人

The Chinese term 别人 (biérén) is a fundamental pronoun that translates to 'other people,' 'others,' or 'someone else.' At its core, it represents anyone who is not the speaker and not the person being spoken to—essentially the third party in any social dynamic. Understanding this word is crucial because Chinese culture often emphasizes the boundary between the 'self' or 'inner circle' and the 'outside world.' When you use 别人, you are drawing a linguistic line between your immediate group and the rest of society.

Literal Breakdown

The character 别 (bié) means 'other,' 'different,' or 'to depart,' while 人 (rén) means 'person.' Combined, they literally mean 'other person.'

In daily conversation, 别人 is used in a wide variety of contexts. It can be used to describe general strangers, as in 'Don't talk to others' (不要跟别人说话), or it can be used to refer to a specific person whose name you don't want to mention or don't know. It is ubiquitous in advice-giving, where speakers compare the listener to a hypothetical 'other' to illustrate a point about behavior or achievement. For example, 'Look at how hard others work' (你看别人多努力) is a classic phrase used by parents and teachers.

Beyond its literal meaning, 别人 also plays a role in the Chinese concept of 'Face' (面子). Much of social behavior in China is dictated by how 'others' perceive one's actions. Therefore, you will frequently hear the phrase 'What will others think?' (别人会怎么想？). This highlights the importance of the collective gaze in Chinese society. Whether you are discussing privacy, social norms, or simply pointing out someone in a crowd, 别人 is the go-to term for navigating the world beyond your immediate self.

Social Context

It is used to maintain social distance. Using 'others' instead of a specific name can sometimes be a way to avoid direct confrontation or to generalize a moral lesson.

Furthermore, 别人 is often contrasted with 自己 (zìjǐ - oneself). This duality—self vs. others—is a recurring theme in Chinese philosophy and daily ethics. To 'think of others' (为别人着想) is considered a high virtue. In this sense, the word is not just a grammatical placeholder but a carrier of cultural values regarding empathy, community, and social responsibility. From the playground to the boardroom, understanding who 'the others' are helps you understand your own position in the social hierarchy.

Grammatically, 别人 (biérén) is highly versatile and functions as a standard pronoun. It can occupy almost any position in a sentence that a noun can, including subject, object, or possessive modifier. Because it is inherently plural-neutral (it can mean 'one other person' or 'many other people' depending on context), it is incredibly convenient for learners.

As a Subject

When 别人 is the subject, it initiates the action performed by 'others.' For example: 别人都走了 (Everyone else has left). Here, it sets the stage for what the outside group is doing.

One of the most common ways you will use this word is in the possessive form by adding the particle 的 (de). 别人的 means 'someone else's' or 'belonging to others.' This is essential for talking about property, opinions, or characteristics. For instance, 别拿别人的东西 (Don't take other people's things). Notice how the structure mirrors English 'other people' + 's'.

Another key usage is as an object of a verb or a preposition. You can 'help others' (帮助别人), 'listen to others' (听别人的), or 'compare with others' (跟别人比较). In these cases, 别人 acts as the recipient of the action. It is important to note that Chinese rarely uses plural markers like 们 (men) with 别人. While 别人 is already collective, 人们 (people) is a different word used for 'humanity' or 'the public' in a more abstract sense.

As an Object

Example: 你应该多考虑别人。 (You should consider others more.) Here, 'others' is the direct object of the verb 'consider.'

Finally, consider the contrastive use. In many sentences, 别人 is used to set up a comparison between 'me' (我) and 'them.' For example, 别人能做到，你也能做到 (If others can do it, you can too). This structure is a staple of motivational speaking and parenting in Chinese culture. The word serves as a benchmark for social standards and expectations.

In the real world, 别人 (biérén) is a word you will hear dozens of times a day in a Chinese-speaking environment. It appears in every conceivable social scenario, from the most casual family dinner to a formal business negotiation. Its frequency is a testament to how often we define our actions in relation to those around us.

At Home

You'll hear parents telling children: 别吵到别人 (Don't disturb others). It's a fundamental part of early childhood education in China, focusing on public decorum and consideration.

In the workplace, 别人 is often used to discuss competition or collaboration. A manager might say, 我们要看看别人是怎么做的 (We need to see how others are doing it), referring to competitors. Or, in a collaborative setting, someone might suggest, 把这个机会留给别人吧 (Let's leave this opportunity for someone else), showing humility or strategic delegation.

Social media and the internet are also full of 别人. You'll see articles with titles like 'Why are others so successful?' (为什么别人那么成功？) or 'Don't live in the eyes of others' (不要活在别人的眼里). These phrases reflect a modern struggle in Chinese society: balancing personal happiness with the pressure of social comparison. The 'other' is often an idealized version of a peer that one is measured against.

Public Service Announcements

In parks or museums, signs might read: 尊重别人，爱护环境 (Respect others, take care of the environment). Here, the word is used to build a sense of civic duty.

Finally, in romantic or emotional contexts, 别人 can be used to create a sense of 'us vs. the world.' A partner might say, 我不在乎别人怎么看，我只在乎你 (I don't care what others think, I only care about you). In this way, 别人 serves as the backdrop against which personal relationships are defined and strengthened.

While 别人 (biérén) seems straightforward, English speakers often trip over a few subtle nuances. The most common mistake is using 别人 when they actually mean 'another' of an object. In English, we use 'other' for both people and things, but in Chinese, 别人 is strictly for human beings. You cannot say '别人咖啡' for 'another coffee'; you must use 别的 or 另外的 for objects.

Mistake 1: Category Error

Using 别人 to refer to things. Correct: 别的书 (other books). Incorrect: 别人书.

Another frequent error involves the word 人家 (rénjia). While both can mean 'others,' 人家 has a more colloquial, sometimes cutesy or annoyed tone, and it can even mean 'me' in a flirtatious or childish way. Beginners often use 别人 in places where 人家 would be more natural, or vice versa. 别人 is the safer, more neutral choice, but it can sound a bit formal or distant in very close-knit settings.

A third mistake is adding the plural marker 们 (men) to create 别人们. While you might occasionally hear this in very specific regional dialects or poetic uses, in standard Mandarin, 别人 is already understood to be plural or singular. Adding 们 is redundant and sounds unnatural to native ears. Just stick with 别人 regardless of whether you are talking about one person or a hundred.

Mistake 2: Redundant Pluralization

Saying 别人们. Correct: 别人.

Lastly, learners sometimes confuse 别人 with 其他人 (qítā rén). While they are very similar, 其他人 usually refers to 'the rest of the people' within a specific, defined group. For example, if there are five people in a room and you are talking about the four who aren't you, 其他人 is more precise. 别人 is more general and refers to 'others' in the world at large. Using 其他人 when you mean 'any other person' can make your speech sound overly technical or restricted.

To truly master the concept of 'others' in Chinese, you need to know when to swap 别人 (biérén) for a more specific alternative. The Chinese language has several words that cover this semantic space, each with its own flavor and level of formality.

人家 (rénjia)

This is the most common colloquial alternative. It can mean 'others,' but it often carries an emotional undertone—either of mild annoyance, envy, or even third-person self-reference (used by girls or children). Example: 你看人家多聪明！ (Look how smart they are! - implying 'unlike you').

他人 (tārén)

This is the formal, written version of 别人. You will find it in legal documents, academic papers, and philosophical texts. It is rarely used in spoken conversation unless the speaker is being very deliberate or reciting a quote. Example: 尊重他人的权利 (Respect the rights of others).

If you are referring to a specific subset of people, 其他人 (qítā rén) or 其余的人 (qíyú de rén) are better choices. These mean 'the others' or 'the remaining people.' Use these when you have already established a group and want to talk about those who haven't been mentioned yet. For example, 'I'm staying, but the others (其他人) are leaving.'

In literary or very formal settings, you might encounter 旁人 (pángrén). This literally means 'people on the side' or 'bystanders.' It is used when emphasizing that the 'others' are observers who are not directly involved in the main action. If you are having a private conversation and don't want 'others' to overhear, 旁人 is a poetic way to describe those onlookers.

众人 (zhòngrén)

This means 'the crowd' or 'the multitude.' It is used when 'others' refers to a large, undifferentiated mass of people. It’s more collective than 别人.

Finally, there is 别个 (biégè), which is a regional (often Southwestern) dialectal variation of 别人. While you shouldn't use it in standard Mandarin exams, hearing it will help you recognize the word in places like Sichuan or Chongqing. Understanding these nuances allows you to tailor your 'others' to the specific social distance and formality of your situation.