它

• Pinyin: tā
• Hanzi breakdown: 它 = 宀 (roof) + lower component, originally pictograph of a snake; now used as the pronoun 'it'

Meaning

It. A third-person pronoun for animals and inanimate objects.

Used exclusively for animals and things, never for people. Chinese has three third-person singular pronouns that sound identical (tā) but are written differently: 他 (he), 她 (she), and 它 (it). In spoken Chinese there is no distinction, but in writing the correct character must be used.

Examples

1. 这只猫很可爱，它叫小白。 This cat is very cute, its name is Xiaobai.
2. 这本书很好，你应该读读它。 This book is great, you should read it.
3. 这台电脑太旧了，它经常出问题。 This computer is too old, it often has problems.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday conversation, describing things, animals

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我很喜欢这个地方，它很安静。(I really like this place, it is very quiet.)
• 这条狗丢了，我们要找到它。(This dog is lost, we need to find it.)

Don't Say

• 不要用它来指人 (Don't use 它 to refer to people — 它 is only for animals and things; use 他 for males and 她 for females)

Origin & History

宀 (roof) + a lower stroke. Originally meant 'snake' in ancient Chinese. It was later repurposed as the pronoun 'it' to distinguish non-human referents from 他 (he) and 她 (she).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal