他
tā
He
他 (tā) is the standard third-person singular pronoun in Mandarin Chinese, meaning 'he' or 'him.' It's used for male individuals and is a fundamental word for referring to people.
What does 他 (tā) mean?
他 (tā) means “he” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “he/him.”
When to use it
Neutral and universally applicable. While 他 specifically refers to males, remember that 她 (tā) means 'she/her' and 它 (tā) means 'it' (for objects or animals). All three are pronounced identically.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like 'TAH,' with a high, flat tone (first tone).
Other ways to say it
- 她tāshe/her
- 它tāit
- 他们tāmenthey/them (male or mixed group)
Examples
他是一个医生。
tā shì yí ge yīshēng.
He is a doctor.
他喜欢踢足球。
tā xǐhuan tī zúqiú.
He likes to play soccer.
你认识他吗？
nǐ rènshi tā ma?
Do you know him?
Pro tip: The three 'tā' pronouns (他, 她, 它) are pronounced exactly the same. You rely on context or the written character to know if it refers to 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.'
Related phrases
阿姨 · Aunt宝贝 · Bae布兰登 · Brandon
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