人家 vs 别人 (others — colloquial vs neutral)
Others — with attitude, or without
- Both can mean "other people" — but other people人家 has extra colours.
- other people别人 = other people (neutral, "someone else").
- other people人家 = (colloquial) other people, a specific person — or even a coy "me".
other people别人 = others (neutral)
- other people别人(of / 's)的matter事,no matter (who, what etc)别管 = "other people's business — don't meddle."
this这is是other people别人的business事。
- other people别人(of / 's)的matter事 = "someone else's business."
Practice
Other people's business — don't meddle: 这是 ____ 的事。
别人 = other people (neutral): 别人的事.
other people人家 = others / a person / coy "me"
- other people人家all / both都to walk走(completed / change)了 = "everyone else has left"; other people人家not不to tell告诉you你 = "I'm not telling you (pouting)."
they人家all都leave走了。
- other people人家all / both都to walk走(completed / change)了 = "everyone else has gone."
Explore
Which word completes the sentence?
别人 is the neutral 'other people'; 人家 adds attitude — warmth, reproach or a pout.
Practice
Which can also mean a coy “me”, or a specific person?
人家 is warmer / more spoken; 别人 is neutral “others”.
Practice
人家 is more colloquial and can refer to oneself.
Yes — 人家不告诉你 (a coy “I won't tell you”).
Recap
Key idea
- other people别人 = other people (neutral): other people别人(of / 's)的matter事
- other people人家 = (spoken) others / a specific person / a coy "me": other people人家all / both都to walk走(completed / change)了
- other people人家 is warmer / more spoken; can even mean "me"
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Comparing similar nouns.