Combining “he” (他) with the plural marker (们) logically creates the word for “they/them” (他们).
The story of “他们” reflects a fascinating linguistic and cultural shift in modern China. Historically, the character `他` was gender-neutral, used for “he,” “she,” or “it,” much like “he” was sometimes used generically in older English. In the early 20th century, influenced by Western languages that have distinct gendered pronouns, Chinese linguists created `她` (tā) for “she” and popularized `它` (tā) for “it.” This led to the creation of the corresponding plurals: `她们` (for all-female groups) and `它们` (for animals/objects). However, `他们` retained its power as the default and dominant form. In modern Chinese culture, `他们` is always used for a mixed-gender group. There is no concept of a “gender-neutral” written plural pronoun like the singular “they” in English; `他们` simply fills that role by default. Furthermore, it's very common in informal and even some formal writing to see `他们` used to refer to an all-female group, highlighting its status as the primary, overarching term for “they.” This differs from Western culture, where specifying gender is often more rigid.
“他们” is a high-frequency word used constantly in daily life, from casual chats to formal speeches.
The biggest pitfall for learners is the difference between the three written forms of “tāmen,” which are indistinguishable in spoken conversation.