Word Watch: You, You, You!

You  はご存知の通り　“あなた、あなたたち”　という意味です。が、特定のあなたではない意味で使われることが多々あります。最近よく見かけるのは、タバコのパッケージに書かれている言い方。あなたの健康を損なうおそれがありますので吸いすぎに注意しましょう。このあなたは特定のあなたではなく、一般的なあなたとして日本語でも使われていますよね。

You (特定のあなた)
I like you.
You are tall.
You are clever.
You are kind.
Are you happy?
Are you OK?

You (特定のあなたたち / 君たち / 皆さん) = You all / Most people
Where are you going? = Where are you all going?
Did you have a good time? = Did you all have a good time?
Do you eat cake at Christmas? = Do most people eat cake at Christmas?
Do you take your shoes off at the door?

You (一般的なあなた) = You all / Everybody
Smoking is bad for you.
Exercise is good for your health.
You should not drink alcohol regularly.
Sleeping just 4 hours a night is not good for you.
Relaxation is good for you.
You are not allowed to talk during the test.