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牠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
牠tāit; polled cattlezg, 7 strokes, radical 牛, rank #19033, Very Hard
牠tāit (used for animals)unknown, 7 strokes, radical 牛, rank #19033, Very Hard
tā(ta1)ta T1
  1. 1it; polled cattle
  2. 2it (used for animals)
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March 24, 2026

牠tā(ta1)

The character 牠 (tā) is used as a pronoun for animals, distinguishing them from humans. It can refer to any non-human entity, such as pets or livestock, and is important in contexts discussing animal behaviors, traits, or ownership.

Strokes7Radical牛Frequency#19033DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, animals are often regarded with affection and respect, and using 牠 acknowledges their individuality. This is particularly significant in discussions about pets, which are increasingly viewed as family members.

Memory Tip

Imagine a friendly dog wagging its tail while you say 'tā' (sounds like 'ta'). The character 牠 features the radical for animal (犭) on the left, reminding you that this word is specifically for animals, making it easier to remember its meaning.

Meanings of 牠

tā(ta1)
1it; polled cattle
2it (used for animals)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 牠

牠Simplified
7Strokes
牛Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 牠

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Podcast: 牠

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AI Study Notes for 牠

Quick Contrast

牠 (tā) vs 它 (tā) — use 牠 for animals specifically, while 它 is for inanimate objects or non-specific entities.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 牠 with 他 (tā, meaning 'he') or 她 (tā, meaning 'she'), so be sure to use 牠 only for animals. It is informal and commonly used in everyday conversations, especially among pet owners or in discussions about wildlife.

HSK Study Tips

While 牠 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this word can enhance your ability to express ideas about animals. Focus on practicing sentences that include 牠 to build familiarity and fluency.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 他 (tā) when referring to animals, thinking it is a general pronoun. Remember to use 牠 when talking about pets or animals, e.g., '牠在那儿' (It is over there) instead of '他在那儿'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 牠

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Etymology of 牠

Decomposition of 牠

IDS Structure⿰牛也
牠Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
也Ye3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 牠?

How to say it; polled cattle in Chinese

“it; polled cattle” in Chinese is牠tā

The character 牠 (tā) is used as a pronoun for animals, distinguishing them from humans. It can refer to any non-human entity, such as pets or livestock, and is important in contexts discussing animal behaviors, traits, or ownership.

When to use 牠

Learners often confuse 牠 with 他 (tā, meaning 'he') or 她 (tā, meaning 'she'), so be sure to use 牠 only for animals. It is informal and commonly used in everyday conversations, especially among pet owners or in discussions about wildlife.

牠 or something close to it

牠 (tā) vs 它 (tā) — use 牠 for animals specifically, while 它 is for inanimate objects or non-specific entities.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 他 (tā) when referring to animals, thinking it is a general pronoun. Remember to use 牠 when talking about pets or animals, e.g., '牠在那儿' (It is over there) instead of '他在那儿'.

Write 牠

牠

Practice writing 牠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 牠

Words Containing This Character1
牠tāit (used for animals)

Frequently Asked Questions about 牠

Yes, 牠 can be used for any non-human animal, but it's most commonly used for pets.

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