In Chinese culture, which often emphasizes collectivism over individualism, the concept of the group is paramount. The word 我们 (wǒmen) is used constantly to create and reinforce group identity. You will frequently hear people refer to “我们公司” (wǒmen gōngsī - our company), “我们学校” (wǒmen xuéxiào - our school), or “我们家” (wǒmen jiā - our family/home) to signal a sense of belonging and shared purpose. A key cultural and linguistic point is the distinction between the “exclusive we” and the “inclusive we”.
While 我们 (wǒmen) is technically the exclusive “we,” in modern spoken Chinese, its usage has become more general. It can often mean “we” (inclusive of the listener) depending on the context. However, using the specific term 咱们 (zánmen) is a clear and often friendly way to explicitly include the person you are talking to, creating a sense of closeness. In English, we lack this distinction and have to clarify with phrases like “you and me” or “my team and I”.
我们 (wǒmen) is used in virtually all situations, from casual conversation to formal speeches.
The most significant pitfall for English speakers is the distinction between 我们 (wǒmen) and 咱们 (zánmen).