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raincoletoday at 6:35 PM1 replyview on HN

> The constant use of “I” (Wo) is a modern invention; classical poetry usually omits the subject to create a universal feeling.

我(Wo, "I") has been constantly used for a very very long time. Just less in poetry. For example, this is from early 19th century[0]:

>> 嫣娘答應著,出來三步兩步,連忙跑到園裡,一進門就高聲說道:「回來了,可也回來了!」

This is from Journey to The West, 16th century:

>> 等在此,恐作耍成真,或驚動人王,或有禽王、獸王認此犯頭,說我們操兵造反,興師來相殺,汝等都是竹竿木刀,如何對敵?須得鋒利劍戟方可。如今奈何?

This is allegedly more than 2,000 years(!) old[1]:

>> 帝力於何有哉

Actually, there are pronouns specifically created for western text:

- 她 (she)

- 妳 (female you, no longer used in mainland China)

- 祂 (originally this character was only used for He and Him in the Bible).

The author mentioning 我 instead of these makes me question how knowledgeable this article is.

[0]: https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E9%A2%A8%E6%9C%88%E9%91%9...

[1]: https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%93%8A%E5%A3%A4%E6%AD%8...


Replies

connorboyletoday at 9:53 PM

>> 我等在此...

This is also an example of a plural suffix ("-等") which the post author paints as English/Western influence (specifically "-们")

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