(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) 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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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).
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.
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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Practice writing 他 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
'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.
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 他
Compounds1
怹
Words Containing This Character19
他tāhe or him
他们tāmenthey他們
其他qítāother
他妈的fucking他媽的
他人tārénanother
吉他jítāguitar (loanword)
维他命vitamin (loanword)維他命
他国another country他國
犹他州Utah猶他州
马耳他Malta馬耳他
犹他Utah猶他
利他altruism
别无他法there is no alternative別無他法
南达科他州South Dakota, US state南達科他州
安非他明amphetamine (loanword)
他乡遇故知meeting an old friend in a foreign place (idiom)他鄉遇故知
他乡foreign land他鄉
北达科他州North Dakota, US state北達科他州
异国他乡foreign lands and places (idiom); living as expatriate異國他鄉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 他 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.
