您
honorific for "you"
Strokes11
Readings
On'yomi
- ジ
- ニ
Kun'yomi
- なんじ
- しかり
- その
- のみ
Meaning
您 centers on a respectful, formal way to address someone directly: an honorific 'you'.
Study
Etymology
您 is a modern Chinese-created character combining 你 (you) and 心 (heart), suggesting a heartfelt or respectful 'you'. It was not historically used in Japanese and has no traditional Japanese etymology.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 你 means 'you', and the bottom 心 is a heart. Together they form a respectful 'you' that comes from the heart.
Reading mnemonic
For ジ, imagine addressing someone with a respectful 'Gee, how are you?' — the 'Gee' sounds like ジ and fits the honorific tone.