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我
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Translingual
Han character
我 (Kangxi radical 62, 戈+3, 7 strokes, cangjie input 竹手戈 (HQI), four-corner 23550, composition ⿻𠂌戈)
Derived characters
Descendants
- 𛀜 (Hentaigana)
References
- Kangxi Dictionary: page 412, character 1
- Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 11545
- Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1401, character 2
- Unihan data for U+6211
Further reading
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Chinese
Glyph origin
A pictogram (象形) of a trident-like weapon or tool (note the oracle bone script form 𢦐). Jao & Zeng (1985, pp. 289–290) conjecture about its similarity to a kind of three-bladed polearm found at archaeological sites. Cf. 戈 (“polearm”), which is the same weapon but with a single blade instead of three. It was already borrowed for sound to mean "I" (in the sense of "first-person subject") since the oracle bone script.
Guo Moruo considers it to be the original character for 錡 (OC *ɡral, “a kind of war axe with three blades or teeth”).
Folk etymology considers it to be an ideograph of a hand (手) holding a weapon (戈) to protect oneself.
Etymology
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ŋa. Cognate with 吾 (OC *ŋaː), Burmese ငါ (nga, “I”), Hakka 𠊎 (ngài). The expected Mandarin pronunciation is ě (now only found in a few Northern dialects); wǒ is "a col[loquial] archaism" (Schuessler, 2007).
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Standard)
- (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): ngo3
- (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): ngè
- (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): ǒ
- (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): вә (və, II)
- Cantonese
- (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ngo5
- (Dongguan, Jyutping++): ngo5
- (Taishan, Wiktionary): ngoi1 / ngo4 / ngoi4
- (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ngo5
- Gan (Wiktionary): ngo3
- Hakka
- Jin (Wiktionary): ghe2
- Northern Min (KCR): uòi / nguòi
- Eastern Min (BUC): nguāi / ngō̤
- Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): gua3 / ngor3
- Southern Min
- Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): ngo5
- Wu (Northern, Wugniu): 6ngu; 6wu / 6ngou; 1ngou / 3ngo
- Xiang
- (Changsha, Wiktionary): ngo3
- (Loudi, Wiktionary): ng3 / nguo3
- (Hengyang, Wiktionary): ngo3
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese, vernacular, standard)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: wǒ
- Zhuyin: ㄨㄛˇ
- Tongyong Pinyin: wǒ
- Wade–Giles: wo3
- Yale: wǒ
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: woo
- Palladius: во (vo)
- Sinological IPA (key): /wɔ²¹⁴/
- (Standard Chinese, literary, rare variant)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: ě
- Zhuyin: ㄜˇ
- Tongyong Pinyin: ě
- Wade–Giles: o3
- Yale: ě
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ee
- Palladius: э (e)
- Sinological IPA (key): /ˀɤ²¹⁴/
- (Chengdu)
- Sichuanese Pinyin: ngo3
- Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: ngo
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋo⁵³/
- (Xi'an)
- Guanzhong Pinyin: ngè
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋɤ⁵³/
- (Nanjing)
- Nanjing Pinyin: ǒ
- Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): o3
- Sinological IPA (key): /o¹¹/
- (Dungan)
- Cyrillic and Wiktionary: вә (və, II)
- Sinological IPA (key): /və⁵¹/
- (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
- (Standard Chinese, vernacular, standard)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
- Jyutping: ngo5
- Yale: ngóh
- Cantonese Pinyin: ngo5
- Guangdong Romanization: ngo5
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋɔː¹³/
- (Dongguan, Guancheng)
- Jyutping++: ngo5
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋɔ¹³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
- Wiktionary: ngoi1 / ngo4 / ngoi4
- Sinological IPA (key): /ᵑɡᵘɔi³³/, /ᵑɡᵘɔ²¹/, /ᵑɡᵘɔi²¹/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
Note:
- ngoi1 - vernacular (“I; my”);
- ngo4 - literary (“I”);
- ngoi4 - “we; our”.
- Gan
- (Nanchang)
- Wiktionary: ngo3
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋo²¹³/
- (Nanchang)
- Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
- Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngô
- Hakka Romanization System: ngoˊ
- Hagfa Pinyim: ngo1
- Sinological IPA: /ŋo²⁴/
- (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
- Hakka Romanization System: ngoˋ
- Sinological IPA: /ŋo⁵³/
- (Meixian)
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
- Jin
- (Taiyuan)+
- Wiktionary: ghe2
- Sinological IPA (old-style): /ɣɤ⁵³/
- (Taiyuan)+
- Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
- Kienning Colloquial Romanized: uòi / nguòi
- Sinological IPA (key): /uɛ⁴²/, /ŋuɛ⁴²/
- (Jian'ou)
- uòi - vernacular;
- nguòi - literary.
- Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
- Bàng-uâ-cê: nguāi / ngō̤
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋuai³³/, /ŋo³³/
- (Fuzhou)
- nguāi - vernacular;
- ngō̤ - literary.
- Puxian Min
- (Putian)
- Pouseng Ping'ing: gua3
- Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: guâ
- Sinological IPA (key): /kua⁴⁵³/
- (Xianyou)
- Pouseng Ping'ing: gua3
- Sinological IPA (key): /kua³³²/
- (Putian)
- Pouseng Ping'ing: ngor3
- Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: ngô̤
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋɒ⁴⁵³/
- (Xianyou)
- Pouseng Ping'ing: ngor3
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋɒ³³²/
- (Putian)
- gua3 - vernacular;
- ngor3 - literary.
- Southern Min
- góa/óa - vernacular;
- ngó͘ - literary.
- (Teochew)
- Peng'im: ua2 / ngo2
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: uá / ngó
- Sinological IPA (key): /ua⁵²/, /ŋo⁵²/
- (Teochew)
- ua2 - vernacular;
- ngo2 - literary.
- bha2 - vernacular;
- ngo2 - literary.
- Southern Pinghua
- (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
- Jyutping++: ngo5
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋo²⁴/
- (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
- Wu
- (Shanghainese) 6wu - common among younger speakers;
- (Suzhounese) 1ngou - literary.
- Xiang
- (Changsha)
- Wiktionary: ngo3
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋo⁴¹/
- (Loudi)
- Wiktionary: ng3 / nguo3
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋ̍⁴²/, /ŋʊ⁴²/
- (Changsha)
- ng3 - vernacular;
- nguo3 - literary.
- (Hengyang)
- Wiktionary: ngo3
- Sinological IPA (key): /ŋo³³/
- (Hengyang)
Note:
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- Dialectal data
- Middle Chinese: ngaX
- Old Chinese
- (Baxter–Sagart): /*ŋˤajʔ/
- (Zhengzhang): /*ŋaːlʔ/
Definitions
我
- I; me; my
- (literary, formal or dialectal) we; us; our
- (obsolete) to stubbornly hold to one's own opinion
- (obsolete) to kill
- (obsolete) tilted
- a surname
Synonyms
- 予 (Classical)
- 余 (Classical)
- 俺 (dialectal Mandarin)
- 僕 / 仆 (pú) (literary, humble)
- 區區 / 区区 (qūqū) (literary, humble)
- 台 (Classical)
- 吾 (Classical)
- 妾 (qiè) (archaic, humble, use by women)
- 孤 (gū) (used by emperor)
- 我佬 (Mainland, internet slang)
- 朕 (zhèn) (Classical)
- 爺 / 爷 (yé) (colloquial, derogatory or familiar)
- 窩 / 窝 (wō) (Mainland, internet slang)
- 老子 (lǎozi) (colloquial male)
See also
Compounds
- 人我
- 人我是非
- 人棄我取 / 人弃我取
- 你三我四
- 你丟我撿 / 你丢我捡
- 你來我往 / 你来我往
- 你儂我儂 / 你侬我侬 (nǐnóngwǒnóng)
- 你我 (nǐwǒ)
- 你推我擠 / 你推我挤
- 你推我讓 / 你推我让
- 你東我西 / 你东我西
- 你死我活 (nǐsǐwǒhuó)
- 你爭我奪 / 你争我夺
- 你知我見 / 你知我见
- 你誇我逞 / 你夸我逞
- 你謙我讓 / 你谦我让
- 你追我趕 / 你追我赶
- 你長我短 / 你长我短
- 依然故我 (yīrángùwǒ)
- 做我不著
- 六經註我 / 六经注我
- 分我杯羹
- 助我張目 / 助我张目
- 勿忘我 (wùwàngwǒ)
- 匡我不逮
- 卿卿我我 (qīngqīngwǒwǒ)
- 唯我
- 唯我獨尊 / 唯我独尊 (wéiwǒdúzūn)
- 唯我論 / 唯我论 (wéiwǒlùn)
- 大我 (dàwǒ)
- 如是我聞 / 如是我闻 (rúshìwǒwén)
- 宰我
- 小我 (xiǎowǒ)
- 彼我
- 彼眾我寡 / 彼众我寡 (bǐzhòngwǒguǎ)
- 彼竭我盈 (bǐjiéwǒyíng)
- 彼長我消 / 彼长我消
- 忘我 (wàngwǒ)
- 惠子知我
- 惟我獨尊 / 惟我独尊
- 憐我憐卿 / 怜我怜卿
- 我丈
- 我人 (wǒrén)
- 我倆 / 我俩 (wǒliǎ)
- 我們 / 我们
- 我儀 / 我仪
- 我儂 / 我侬 (wǒnóng)
- 我咱
- 我國 / 我国 (wǒguó)
- 我執 / 我执 (wǒzhí)
- 我家
- 我將 / 我将
- 我山
- 我師 / 我师
- 我師禽 / 我师禽
- 我慢 (wǒmàn)
- 我所
- 我方 (wǒfāng)
- 我曹 (wǒcáo)
- 我武維揚 / 我武维扬
- 我每 (wǒměi)
- 我生
- 我的天 (wǒ de tiān)
- 我相
- 我私
- 我肏 (wǒ cào)
- 我自
- 我行
- 我行其野
- 我行我素 (wǒxíngwǒsù)
- 我見 / 我见
- 我見猶憐 / 我见犹怜
- 我負子戴 / 我负子戴
- 我身
- 我躬
- 我軍 / 我军 (wǒjūn)
- 我輩 / 我辈 (wǒbèi)
- 我郎
- 我醉欲眠
- 我黼子佩
- 捨我其誰 / 舍我其谁 (shěwǒqíshéi)
- 操之在我
- 故我
- 敵眾我寡 / 敌众我寡 (dízhòngwǒguǎ)
- 日不我與 / 日不我与
- 是非人我
- 時不我待 / 时不我待 (shíbùwǒdài)
- 時不我與 / 时不我与 (shíbùwǒyǔ)
- 有你沒我 / 有你没我
- 有我無人 / 有我无人
- 梵我一如
- 正合我意
- 歲不我與 / 岁不我与 (suìbùwǒyǔ)
- 毋我
- 法我見 / 法我见
- 渾然忘我 / 浑然忘我
- 為我 / 为我 (wèiwǒ)
- 無奈我何 / 无奈我何
- 無我 / 无我 (wúwǒ)
- 爾虞我詐 / 尔虞我诈 (ěryúwǒzhà)
- 爾詐我虞 / 尔诈我虞
- 物我
- 物我無間 / 物我无间
- 生我劬勞 / 生我劬劳
- 盡其在我 / 尽其在我
- 真我
- 知我
- 知我罪我
- 神我
- 私我
- 給我記住 / 给我记住
- 老我
- 自我 (zìwǒ)
- 自我中心 (zìwǒ zhōngxīn)
- 自我介紹 / 自我介绍 (zìwǒ jièshào)
- 自我作古
- 自我作故
- 自我反省 (zìwǒ fǎnxǐng)
- 自我吹噓 / 自我吹嘘
- 自我實現 / 自我实现
- 自我批評 / 自我批评 (zìwǒ pīpíng)
- 自我教育
- 自我期許 / 自我期许
- 自我肯定
- 自我表現 / 自我表现 (zìwǒ biǎoxiàn)
- 自我解嘲
- 自我陶醉
- 至公無我 / 至公无我
- 舊我 / 旧我
- 舍我其誰 / 舍我其谁 (shěwǒqíshéi)
- 舍我復誰 / 舍我复谁
- 誤我 / 误我
- 超我 (chāowǒ)
- 還我河山 / 还我河山
- 非我
- 非我族類 / 非我族类
- 頗我 / 颇我
- 額我略曆 / 额我略历
- 鮑子知我 / 鲍子知我
Descendants
Others:
References
- “我”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database), 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
- Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A01473
- “我”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.
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