ZC Posted February 6, 2018 at 07:08 AM Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 at 07:08 AM When addressing professors who are close to my own age, I usually use 你 and none of them have pointed it out or seemed particularly uncomfortable with it but I have heard other students closer to my age use 您 which I learned was more for addressing people who are your senior in age but not necessarily in hierarchy. Am I being too casual or does 你 seem appropriate in yall’s opinion? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted February 6, 2018 at 07:27 AM Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 at 07:27 AM When in doubt, copy what the people around you say. For what it's worth, I've been called 您 by people older than me. Rather than being about age/seniority, it's generally used as a term to denote respect. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZhangKaiRong Posted February 6, 2018 at 08:46 AM Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 at 08:46 AM I have the same experience as imron - I'm often called 您 by people older than me, and mostly in business situations, which are usually more casual and relaxed than academics. 您 is not just used for addressing people with older age or higher social status, but also to express respect. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyJonesLocker Posted February 6, 2018 at 09:59 AM Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 at 09:59 AM I think as a foreigner little attention would be paid as to whether you use 您or 你 but Imron had given good advice. Just do what others do as a safe bet. I get called 您initially by students, colleagues,. and then after a while it changes to 大哥 or 叔叔 .... but I'm old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messidor Posted February 6, 2018 at 12:07 PM Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 at 12:07 PM It would be better to use 您 unless they tell you to use 你 instead. Actually some profs (eg. my advisor) rarely use 您 to others and they won't require others to use this term (that sounds somewhat strange and stilted), because their mother tongues (many southern dialects) don't have honorific. But it's safer to use 您. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel ZHPY Posted June 27, 2018 at 03:29 PM Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 at 03:29 PM 您 should be used whenever respect is needed to be shown. Examples of situations can be when addressing a person that is significantly older/in a higher position/a teacher/elder generation in a family/someone doing favours for you/a stranger met in a formal situation. And situations in which you cannot use 您 are when addressing a friend/junior member of an organisation or a family/child. As in this case, a professor is considered a knowledgeable educator who deserves great respect, hence 您 should be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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