它们

• Pinyin: tā men
• Hanzi breakdown: 它 = 宀 (roof) + lower component, the pronoun 'it'; 们 = 亻(person) + 门 (door, phonetic), plural marker

Meaning

They; them (for animals and things). The plural third-person pronoun for non-human referents.

The plural form of 它, used to refer to multiple animals or inanimate objects. Like the singular 它, it is distinct from 他们 (they, for males or mixed groups) and 她们 (they, for all-female groups) only in writing. In speech all three sound the same: tāmen.

Examples

1. 这些花很漂亮，它们是从花店买的。 These flowers are beautiful, they were bought from a flower shop.
2. 小猫和小狗在一起玩，它们是好朋友。 The kitten and puppy are playing together, they are good friends.
3. 这些书很有用，我经常看它们。 These books are very useful, I often read them.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday conversation, describing multiple things, animals

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 把这些椅子搬走，它们太旧了。(Move these chairs away, they are too old.)
• 这些苹果看着不错，它们多少钱？(These apples look good, how much are they?)

Don't Say

• 不要用它们来指一群人 (Don't use 它们 to refer to a group of people — use 他们 for males or mixed groups, 她们 for all-female groups; 它们 is strictly for animals and objects)

Origin & History

它 (tā, it) + 们 (men, plural marker). The suffix 们 is added to pronouns and some nouns referring to people or, in this case, things, to indicate plurality.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal