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他 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
他
tā
he or him
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
他
tā
(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant)
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
他
tā
(used before sb's name for emphasis)
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
他
tā
(used as a meaningless mock object)
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
他
tā
other
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
他
tā
another
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
他
tā
other, another; he, she, it
HSK 1, r, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #8, Easy
tā(ta1)ta T1
1he or him
2(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant)
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March 24, 2026
他tā(ta1)
The character 他 (tā) means 'he' or 'him' in Mandarin Chinese. It is commonly used to refer to a male person or, in contexts where gender is unknown or irrelevant, to any person. This character is also frequently used in sentences to emphasize a person's name, making it a versatile pronoun in everyday conversation.
Strokes5Radical亻Frequency#8DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, using the correct pronoun is important in conversation, as it reflects respect and understanding of social relationships. The use of 他 for both genders in neutral contexts shows the flexibility of the language in everyday dialogues.
Memory tip
Imagine a tall man (他) standing proudly in front of a crowd. The left part of the character (亻) resembles a person, while the right part (也) can remind you of a confident stance. Together, they represent 'he'—the tall figure in the crowd.
Meanings of 他
tā(ta1)
1he or him
2(used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant)
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AI study notes for 他
Quick Contrast
他 (he) vs 她 (she) — use 他 for male referents and 她 for female referents.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 他 with 她 (tā), which means 'she,' especially for learners unfamiliar with gendered pronouns in Chinese. The character 他 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure you use the correct tone to avoid confusion, as the different tones can change meanings in other words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 他 is foundational for beginners. Students should focus on its use as a subject pronoun in sentences, connecting it with other basic vocabulary they learn at this level, such as 'I' (我 wǒ) and 'you' (你 nǐ).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 他 when they mean 她, especially in contexts where gender is clear. For example, saying 他 for 'she' is incorrect; instead, use 她 for female subjects.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 他
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The character 他 (tā) means 'he' or 'him' in Mandarin Chinese. It is commonly used to refer to a male person or, in contexts where gender is unknown or irrelevant, to any person. This character is also frequently used in sentences to emphasize a person's name, making it a versatile pronoun in everyday conversation.
When to use 他
Common mistakes include confusing 他 with 她 (tā), which means 'she,' especially for learners unfamiliar with gendered pronouns in Chinese. The character 他 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure you use the correct tone to avoid confusion, as the different tones can change meanings in other words.
他 or something close to it
他 (he) vs 她 (she) — use 他 for male referents and 她 for female referents.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 他 when they mean 她, especially in contexts where gender is clear. For example, saying 他 for 'she' is incorrect; instead, use 她 for female subjects.
Write 他
他
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Grammar patterns of 他
他 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I have been scrupulous about telling them the dangers.
5
我感谢他们长期以来忠诚的效力。
wǒ gǎnxiè tāmen chángqīyǐlái zhōngchéng de xiàolì。
I thanked them for their long and loyal service.
6
我非常乐意为他们答疑解惑。
wǒ fēicháng lèyì wèi tāmen dá yí jiě huò。
I'll be only too pleased to help them out with any queries.
7
我老是要把他从壁炉边拉开。
wǒ lǎoshì yào bǎ tā cóng bì lú biān lākāi。
I was forever dragging him away from the fireplace.
8
有人给我们作了介绍，我挨着他坐下了。
yǒurén gěi wǒmen zuō le jièshào， wǒ āizhe tā zuòxia le。
Someone introduced us and I sat next to him.
9
我向他保证，我绝对没打算让他走人。
wǒ xiàng tā bǎozhèng， wǒ juéduì méi dǎsuàn ràng tā zǒu rén。
I've assured him I have no plans to let him go.
10
他以前总是跟我唠叨必须获胜才行。
tā yǐqián zǒngshì gēn wǒ láodao bìxū huòshèng cái xíng。
He used to keep on at me about the need to win.
11
他是我的好朋友。
Tā shì wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu.
He is my good friend.
12
他喜欢吃苹果。
Tā xǐhuān chī píngguǒ.
He likes to eat apples.
13
他每天都去公园跑步。
Tā měitiān dōu qù gōngyuán pǎobù.
He goes to the park to run every day.
14
他会说一点中文。
Tā huì shuō yīdiǎn zhōngwén.
He can speak a little Chinese.
15
他正在看一本新书。
Tā zhèngzài kàn yī běn xīn shū.
He is reading a new book.
16
他住在学校附近。
Tā zhù zài xuéxiào fùjìn.
He lives near the school.
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Cultural Notes for 他
💡Did you know?
'他' (tā) is a gender-neutral pronoun in Chinese, making it useful in situations where gender is unknown or unimportant. This reflects the flexibility in Chinese language compared to some Western languages where gendered pronouns are more common.
Word Family of 他
Compounds1
怹tān
Words containing this character19
他tāhe or him
他们tāmenthey他們
其他qítāother
他妈的tāmādefucking他媽的
他人tārénanother
吉他jítāguitar (loanword)
维他命wéitāmìngvitamin (loanword)維他命
他国tāguóanother country他國
犹他州yóutāzhōuUtah猶他州
马耳他mǎ’ěrtāMalta馬耳他
犹他yóutāUtah猶他
利他lìtāaltruism
别无他法biéwútāfǎthere is no alternative別無他法
南达科他州nándákētāzhōuSouth Dakota, US state南達科他州
安非他明ānfēitāmíngamphetamine (loanword)
他乡遇故知tāxiāngyùgùzhīmeeting an old friend in a foreign place (idiom)他鄉遇故知
他乡tāxiāngforeign land他鄉
北达科他州běidákētāzhōuNorth Dakota, US state北達科他州
异国他乡yìguótāxiāngforeign lands and places (idiom); living as expatriate異國他鄉
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 他
What does 他们 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 他
Yes, 他 (tā) can be used for either gender when the gender is unknown or unimportant. In modern usage, it is often replaced by 她 (tā) for 'she' when the gender is known. However, in casual conversation, 他 is commonly used as a gender-neutral pronoun.
他 (tā) means 'he' or 'him' in Chinese. It is used to refer to a male person, but it can also be used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant. Additionally, it can serve as a mock object in certain contexts.
To use 他 (tā) in a sentence, you can follow the structure of Subject + 他 + Verb. For example, '他喜欢汉字' means 'He likes Chinese characters.' It can be used before someone's name for emphasis, such as '我认识他，张老师' which translates to 'I know him, Mr. Zhang.'
Yes, 他 can be used when the gender is unknown or unimportant, but for clarity, 她 is preferred when specifically referring to a female.
Yes, 他 is appropriate in both formal and informal writing, but ensure it fits the context of your sentence.
他 is pronounced as 'tā' with a high level tone, so keep your voice steady and high.
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