Correct Answer: A
In Chinese, both “我们(wǒmen)” and “咱们(zánmen)” can be used to indicate “we” or “us”. And they are similar in usage. Both of them can be used as a subject and an object.
Wǒ men míngtiān qù běijīng.
我 们 明天 去 北京。
We will go to Beijing tomorrow.
Nǐ xiǎng wǒmen ma?
你 想 我们 吗？
Do you miss us?
Zánmen jiéhūn ba!
咱们 结婚 吧！
Let’s get married!
Zhāng Wěi bù xǐhuan zánmen.
张 伟 不 喜欢 咱们。
Zhang Wei dislikes us.
However, are “我们(wǒmen)” and “咱们(zánmen)” always exchangeable? Do they have any difference in meaning? Let’s take a look at it together.
Usually, a dialogue has two sides – the speaker and the listener. For the speaker, “我们(wǒmen)” refers to several people including the speaker himself. This is similarly corresponds with “你们(nǐmen), you.”
Jack: Māma, zhè shì Rose, wǒmen shì hǎo péngyou.
Jack: 妈妈， 这 是 Rose，我们 是 好 朋友。
Jack: Mom, this is Rose. We are good friends.
Mother: Nǐhǎo, Rose!
Mother: 你好，Rose！
Mother:Hello Rose!
In this dialogue, for Jack, “我们(wǒmen)” refers to the Rose and himself.
If the speaker says “咱们(zánmen)”, then it not only includes the speaker and the people associated with the speaker, but also includes the listener and the people associated with the listener as well. This corresponds with “他们(tāmen), they.”
Lucy: Betty, Nǐ míngtiān yǒu shíjiān ma?
Lucy: Betty, 你 明天 有 时间 吗？
Lucy: Betty, do you have time tomorrow?
Betty: Yǒu.
Betty: 有。
Betty:Yes, I do.
Lucy: Zánmen qù túshū guǎn ba!
Lucy: 咱们 去 图书 馆 吧！
Lucy: Let’s go to the library!
Betty: Hǎode!
Betty: 好的！
Betty: OK!
In this dialogue, for Lucy, “咱们(zánmen), we” refers to she and Betty, which can be exchanged to “我们(wǒmen)”.
Richard: Wáng Míng, nǐ hé Lǐ Lín xǐhuan Chángchéng ma?
Richard: 王 明， 你 和 李 林 喜欢 长城 吗？
Richard: Wang Ming, do you and Li Lin like the Great Wall?
Wánɡ Mínɡ: Wǒmen fēicháng xǐhuan.
王 明： 我们 非常 喜欢。
Wang Ming: We like it very much.
Richard: Wǒ hé Jennifer yě xǐhuan. Míngtiān zánmen yìqǐ qù ba!
Richard: 我 和 Jennifer 也 喜欢。 明天 咱们 一起 去 吧！
Richard: Jennifer and I like it too. Let’s go there together!
Wánɡ Mínɡ: Hǎode!
王 明： 好的！
Wang Ming: OK!
In this dialogue, for Wang Ming, “我们(wǒmen)” refers Li Lin and himself which cannot be exchanged to “咱们(zánmen)”. For Richard, “咱们(zánmen)” refers to Wang Ming, Li Lin, Jennifer, and himself, which can be exchanged to “我们(wǒmen)”.
In conclusion, “咱们(zánmen)” refers to both the speaker and the listener, while “我们(wǒmen)” may not include the listener.That is to say: “咱们(zánmen)” = “我(们) [wǒ(men)], I or we ” + “你(们) [nǐ (men)], you.” So “我们(wǒmen)” and “咱们(zánmen)” are not always exchangeable in Chinese.
Tom: Míngtiān nǐ hé Jason qù zuò shénme?
Tom: 明天 你 和 Jason 去 做 什么？
Tom: What will you and Jason do tomorrow?
Jack: Míngtiān wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng. Nǐ hé Anna ne?
Jack: 明天 我们 去 看 电影。 你 和 Anna 呢？
Jack: We will go see a film. What about you and Anna?
Tom: Wǒmen yě qù kàn diànyǐng, zánmen yìqǐ qù ba!
Tom: 我们 也 去 看 电影， 咱们 一起 去 吧！
Tom: We will also go see a film. Let’s go together!
In our test, for Jack, he and Jason are “我们(wǒmen).” And for Tom, he and Anna are also “我们(wǒmen).” Tom wants to invite Jack and Jason to go see the film, everyone included, he can use “咱们(zánmen).” So the correct answer is A.
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