咱 is also the simplified spelling of 偺, 喒.
咱
Characters in this entry
- 咱
- zán · we, us
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
2 · za2
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
Sentences in context
Exact source-spelling matches. Open the reader for dictionary lookups, construction notes and related examples. Occurrence does not establish a particular dictionary sense.
Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 10 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
zaa1
Cantonese word readings for 咱. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- (literary or dialectal) I; me
- (inclusive) we; us
- (literary) A particle used after personal pronouns.
character · Etymology 2
- (dialectal, in compounds) time
character · Etymology 3
- (inclusive) we; us
- (polite) you
- (inclusive) our
character · Etymology 4
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Sentence-final modal particle for the imperative mood, similar to 吧 (ba).
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Sentence-final modal particle for the declarative mood.
character · Etymology 5
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 咋 (“how”)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack