Qin Zhihan Early, The Second Person Pronoun Study

Scholars always pay attention to the pronouns in the pre-Qin period. But no one has carried out comprehensive and systematic research on the first personal pronouns and the second personal pronouns. The paper cleans up the first personal pronouns and the second personal pronouns from the Qin Dynasty to the early Han Dynasty. In order to demonstrate the using situations of the first personal pronouns and the second personal pronouns at that time, fill the blank in this area, and provide some useful material for the Chinese grammatical history, using both quantitative and qualitative statistics, synchronic and diachronic techniques, this paper discusses these questions such as amount, frequency, number, the time character, syntactic functions and the functions of condescension or respect.there are four first personal pronouns: Wu(吾), Wo(我), Zhen(朕),Yu(余(予)) in the period between the Qin Dynasty and the early Han Dynasty. Wu(吾) and Wo(我) are spoken words. the using frequency of them is relatively higher, and they can be used as both the odd number and plural number. Zhen(朕) and Yu(余(予)) are not spoken words. The using frequency of them is relatively lower, and they can only be used as the odd number. As Zhen(朕) can only be used by the emperor from the Qin Dynasty, similar to Wo(我), its syntactic functions have no limitation. Though the example that Wu(吾) serves as object is also few, but compared to the pre-Qin period, it can be used as object behind the verb in the definite sentence. its syntactic functions are more complete. Yu(余(予)) is an archaic word. Its syntactic functions inherit the trait of the pre-Qin period. The emperor use Zhen(朕) to demonstrate self-respect. While Wu(吾),Wo(我), Yu(余(予)) have no function of condescension or respect.Zi(子) has been a real second personal pronoun in the period between the Qin Dynasty and the early Han Dynasty. There are six second personal pronouns: Zi(子), Ruo(若), Ru(女(汝)), Er(而), Er(尔), Nai(乃). The using frequency of Zi(子) and Ruo(若) is the highest, Ru(女(汝)) and Er(而) are less, Er(尔) and Nai(乃) are the lest. All of these can find the basis from the time character and the dialect. The number of the second personal pronoun is different: Ruo(若) and Ru(女(汝)) can be used as both the odd number and plural number, while Zi(子), Er(而), Nai(乃) can only be used as the odd number, Zi(子) can also be used flexibly as the plural number. Compared to the Warring states period, Er(尔) can only be used as the odd number, maybe Manifests is not comprehensive. The syntactic functions of Zi(子), Ruo(若) and Ru(女(汝)) are very complete. Er(而) can't serve as object. Nai(乃) can only serve as attributive. in the pre-Qin period, the syntactic functions of Er(尔) is very complete, but in the period between the Qin Dynasty and the early Han Dynasty, Er(尔) can only serve as subject and attributive.