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他们
tā men
they
他们在公园里玩。
They are playing in the park.
formal
Third-person plural pronoun used to refer to a group of people or things previously mentioned or implied.
他们是我的朋友。
They are my friends.
这些书是他们的。
These books are theirs.
Used for both animate and inanimate referents. In formal writing, '他们' can also refer to a mixed-gender group.
Pro Tip
Plural Formation
Unlike English, Chinese does not require the plural suffix '们' (men) after pronouns in all contexts. For example, '他们' (they) is often used even when the number is unspecified, while '他们三个' (the three of them) explicitly states the number.
Gold Rule
Pronoun Usage
Always use '他们' for plural referents unless the group is exclusively female or inanimate. For mixed-gender groups, '他们' is preferred in formal contexts.
Word Origin
Combination of the third-person singular pronoun '他' (tā, he/him) and the plural suffix '们' (men). The character '他' originally meant 'other' and evolved into a gender-neutral third-person pronoun in modern Chinese.
Usage Notes
1. '他们' is the default pronoun for plural referents in Chinese, regardless of gender. For all-female groups, '她们' (tā men) is used, and for inanimate objects, '它们' (tā men) is used. 2. In formal contexts, '他们' may still refer to a mixed-gender group. 3. The plural suffix '们' (men) is optional in some dialects but standard in Mandarin.
Word Breakdown
他
he/him/they (third-person singular)
root们
plural suffix
suffix汉英词典