A snake, coiling with a long tail.
It (third-person singular for animals, objects, or abstract things). Roof (宀) over a spoon-like form (匕): a non-human thing sheltered indoors.
它
Common Usage & Traps
- 它们 — they (for non-human things)
- 它的 — its
- 它是 — it is
-
它人他们它 is only for non-human things; for people, use 他们 (they) or 她们 (they for females).
-
它门它们The plural of 它 is 它们, not 它门. The character 们 is added to pronouns to indicate plural.
When should I use 它 instead of 他 or 她?
Use 它 for animals, objects, and abstract things; use 他 for males and 她 for females.
In Chinese, 它 is the third-person pronoun for non-human entities, such as animals, inanimate objects, and ideas. 他 is used for males, and 她 for females. If you are unsure whether to use 它 or 他/她, ask yourself if the referent is a person. If it's not a person, use 它.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Referring to a dog | 它 | 他/她 |
| Referring to a male friend | 他 | 它 |
| Referring to a female teacher | 她 | 它 |
| Referring to a book | 它 | 他/她 |
How do I distinguish 它 from 他 in writing?
它 has a roof-like top (宀) and a bottom part (匕), while 他 has a person radical (亻) and 也.
The characters 它 and 他 look somewhat similar but have different components. 它 consists of 宀 (roof) and 匕 (spoon/snake body), while 他 consists of 亻 (person) and 也 (also). Remember: 他 contains the person radical, so it refers to people; 它 does not, so it refers to things.
| Dimension | 它 | 他 |
|---|---|---|
| Radical | 宀 (roof) | 亻 (person) |
| Meaning | it (non-human) | he (male person) |
| Example | 它是猫。 (It is a cat.) | 他是老师。 (He is a teacher.) |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
-
就是说方便面里面基本没有水，所以就算在里面什么“东西”也不加， 它 也不会长毛变坏。
-
方便面的主要成分是小麦面粉， 它 所含的营养成分是不完全的。
-
在吃方便面时也可以再多加一些蔬菜、水果什么的，让 它 营养更多。
-
事实上，油炸方便面的含油量比中国人传统常吃的油条，以及现在年轻人喜欢的炸薯条、炸土豆片什么的低很多，只是 它们 的二分之一不到。
-
它 的一个优点就是具有较高的热稳定性。
-
前面说过有的方便面是热风干燥，那 它 的含油量更是几乎可以忽略不计。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
-
东山再起是褒义词，而“死灰复燃”就是 它 的反义词，是一个贬义词。
-
比较搞笑的是 它 口语体的反义词：咸鱼翻身。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
-
它们 昨天就没有吃的东西了。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!