pron.
they; them (for things and animals)
它们
Common Usage & Traps
- 它们吃 — they (animals/things) eat
- 它们喝 — they (animals/things) drink
- 它们没有 — they don't have
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它们们它们们 already marks plural, so stacking another 们 is wrong.
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它们是人他们是人它们 is only for animals or objects, not people.
When should you use 它们 instead of 他们 or 她们?
Use 它们 only for animals or objects, never for people.
English uses one they for people, pets, and random objects. Chinese splits it: 他们 for people, 她们 for women, 它们 for animals or things. If a group includes even one person, use 他们, not 它们. Get this wrong and you sound like you are calling your coworkers furniture. “它们昨天就没有吃的东西了。” (They (the kitten and puppy) had nothing to eat yesterday.) ── [《吃的东西和喝的东西》](/read/buying-food-drinks#s11)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Group of people | 他们 | 它们 |
| Group of women | 她们 | 它们 |
| Pets, objects, ideas | 它们 | 他们 |
| Mixed people and animals | 他们 | 它们 |
Do I need to say 它们 every time I talk about my pets?
No. Chinese drops 它们 when the subject is already clear.
English sentences hate missing subjects, so learners overstuff Chinese with pronouns. Once your listener knows you are talking about your cats, the subject can disappear. First mention: 它们吃了吗？ Later: 吃了吗？ Repeating 它们 in every sentence sounds stiff and textbook-like.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| First mention, no context | 它们吃了吗？ | 吃了吗？ |
| After topic is set | 吃了吗？ | 它们吃了吗？ |
| Several sentences about pets | 它们很好，也爱吃。 | 它们很好，它们也爱吃。 |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
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.
- Scene #1
它们 昨天就没有吃的东西了。
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