Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 大家 | dàjiā |
| 人人 | rénrén |
大家 is the standard way to refer to everyone in a conversation or to address a group of people. You can use it as a direct address to get the attention of a crowd, much like saying "Hey everyone" or "Listen up, everyone".
What does it mean word for word?
The word 大家 is composed of 大 (big) and 家 (family/home), literally meaning 'big family'.
Which one should you use?
While 大家 is the standard term for addressing a group or referring to everyone in a conversational context, 人人 is more literary. 人人 is typically used in fixed idioms and serves to emphasize that every single person is subject to a certain condition, rather than being used as a direct address to a crowd.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mandarin, 大家 (dàjiā) is the standard term for 'everyone'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike in English, the word 大家 does not require a plural marker or change its form when referring to multiple people.
How do you pronounce it?
dàjiā
Did you know?
- In a different context, the exact same word 大家 (dàjiā) is used to describe a 'master' or an 'expert' in a particular field, such as a famous artist or musician.
- The character 家 (jiā) consists of a 'roof' radical on top and a 'pig' radical underneath, reflecting ancient views of a home as a place where livestock was kept.
- In formal written notices, instead of the conversational 大家, you might see 全体 (quántǐ), which is a much more rigid and professional way to say 'all members' of a specific group.
Examples in context
- 大家都还行。Everyone was okay.This sentence uses 大家 to describe the state of a group.Tatoeba #5091089 by mirrorvan, translation #2549165 by CK
- 大家辛苦了！Good job, everyone!This sentence uses 大家 as an expression of appreciation for a group.Tatoeba #13549383 by LeviHighway, translation #9411222 by DJ_Saidez
- 大家都認識我。Everyone knows me.This sentence uses 大家 to describe the social connection between a person and a group.Tatoeba #3957666 by egg0073, translation #2245441 by CK
- 大家好！ (Dà jiā hǎo!)Hello, everyone!
- 大家请坐！ (Dà jiā qǐng zuò!)Please have a seat, everyone!
- 大家注意安全！ (Dà jiā zhùyì ānquán!)Everyone, pay attention to safety!
- 大伙儿都来这边！ (Dàhuǒr dōu lái zhè biān!)Everyone, come over here!
- 大伙儿准备好了吗？ (Dàhuǒr zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?)Is everyone ready?
- 106 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jiayi and Wei are welcoming people to a meeting.
- 佳怡 Jiayi大家请坐。Dàjiā qǐng zuò.Everyone, please take a seat.
- 伟 Wei现在大家都到了吗？Xiànzài dàjiā dōu dào le ma?Has everyone arrived now?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，大家都在这里。Shì de, dàjiā dōu zài zhèlǐ.Yes, everyone is here.
- 伟 Wei那我们开始吧。Nà wǒmen kāishǐ ba.Then let's get started.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “everyone” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
