tā: 它 - It

• Keywords: tā, ta, 它, Chinese pronoun it, third-person pronoun China, what is ta in Chinese, he she it in Chinese, ta vs ta, Chinese for animals, Chinese for objects, Chinese HSK 1
• Summary: Learn how to use 它 (tā), the essential Chinese pronoun for 'it'. This comprehensive guide explains how to use 它 (tā) for objects, animals, and abstract concepts, and clarifies the crucial spoken and written differences between 它 (tā), 他 (tā), and 她 (tā). Perfect for HSK 1 beginners, this page includes over 10 practical example sentences, cultural context, and common mistakes to help you master this fundamental Chinese word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tā
• Part of Speech: Pronoun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: It; the third-person singular pronoun for non-human objects, animals, or concepts.
• In a Nutshell: 它 (tā) is the direct Chinese equivalent of the English word “it”. While the pronunciation is identical to 他 (tā - he) and 她 (tā - she), the written character is used exclusively for non-human things. This includes inanimate objects (like a book or phone), animals (like a cat or dog), and abstract ideas (like a problem or situation).

• 它 (tā): This character is a pictogram. The top radical `宀` (mián) means “roof,” suggesting a covering or enclosure. Originally, this character was a more general pronoun. However, with the modern creation of the gendered pronouns `他` (he) and `她` (she) in the early 20th century, 它 became specialized to mean “it,” solidifying its role as the non-human, non-gendered pronoun.

The existence and use of 它 (tā) highlight a clear linguistic distinction between humans and non-humans in Chinese. While English speakers frequently personify their pets by calling them “he” or “she”, the grammatically standard and traditional Chinese approach is to use the neutral 它 (tā). This is not to say Chinese culture values animals less, but rather that the language's structure maintains a more formal separation. Using 他 or 她 to refer to a beloved pet is a modern, informal trend, often seen as a sign of endearment and Western influence. However, in any formal writing or when referring to animals in general (e.g., in a nature documentary), 它 is the only correct choice. This subtle difference shows how language can reflect underlying cultural perspectives on the relationship between humans and the natural world.

它 is used in three main contexts, which directly mirror the English “it”.

• Inanimate Objects: This is the most common usage. Any object that is not a person is referred to as 它.
  • e.g., a phone, a book, a car, a house.
• Animals: This is the standard, grammatically correct way to refer to any animal, regardless of its gender or how close you are to it.
  • e.g., a cat, a dog, a bird, a tiger.
• Abstract Concepts or Situations: When referring to a problem, a plan, a situation, or an idea, 它 is used.
  • e.g., “The matter is complex, let's discuss it.”

The formality is neutral. 它 is used in all registers, from casual conversation to formal academic writing.

• Example 1:
  • 这是我的猫，它很可爱。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de māo, tā hěn kě'ài.
  • English: This is my cat, it is very cute.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 它 for an animal. This is the default and most common way to refer to a pet.
• Example 2:
  • 我买了一本书，它很有意思。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ mǎi le yī běn shū, tā hěn yǒu yìsi.
  • English: I bought a book, it is very interesting.
  • Analysis: Here, 它 refers to an inanimate object, the book. This is a very straightforward usage.
• Example 3:
  • 你的手机在哪儿？我找不到它。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de shǒujī zài nǎr? Wǒ zhǎo bu dào tā.
  • English: Where is your phone? I can't find it.
  • Analysis: 它 functions as the object of the verb “find” (找不到), just as “it” does in English.
• Example 4:
  • 这家公司很大，它的文化也很好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī hěn dà, tā de wénhuà yě hěn hǎo.
  • English: This company is very big, and its culture is also very good.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the possessive form 它的 (tā de), meaning “its”. Note that the 的 is often omitted in informal speech.
• Example 5:
  • 这个问题很复杂，我们需要时间来解决它。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge wèntí hěn fùzá, wǒmen xūyào shíjiān lái jiějué tā.
  • English: This problem is very complicated, we need time to solve it.
  • Analysis: Shows 它 being used to refer to an abstract concept, “the problem” (问题).
• Example 6:
  • 快看那只狗，它在追自己的尾巴！
  • Pinyin: Kuài kàn nà zhī gǒu, tā zài zhuī zìjǐ de wěiba!
  • English: Quick, look at that dog, it's chasing its own tail!
  • Analysis: A good conversational example of using 它 for an animal in action.
• Example 7:
  • 我有一辆新车，它是红色的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒu yī liàng xīn chē, tā shì hóngsè de.
  • English: I have a new car, it is red.
  • Analysis: Simple, declarative sentence using 它 to provide more information about an object.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然这台电脑很旧，但是它还能用。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zhè tái diànnǎo hěn jiù, dànshì tā hái néng yòng.
  • English: Although this computer is old, it still works.
  • Analysis: Here, 它 is the subject of the second clause, referring back to “computer” (电脑).
• Example 9:
  • 熊猫是中国国宝，它主要吃竹子。
  • Pinyin: Xióngmāo shì Zhōngguó guóbǎo, tā zhǔyào chī zhúzi.
  • English: The panda is China's national treasure, it mainly eats bamboo.
  • Analysis: This is an example of formal, factual writing. Using `他` or `她` here would be incorrect and sound very strange.
• Example 10:
  • 这个计划听起来不错，让我们执行它吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge jìhuà tīng qǐlái búcuò, ràng wǒmen zhíxíng tā ba.
  • English: This plan sounds good, let's implement it.
  • Analysis: Another example of 它 referring to an abstract idea, “the plan” (计划).

• The Tā / Tā / Tā Trap: The single biggest mistake for learners is confusing the three `tā` pronouns in writing. While 他 (he), 她 (she), and 它 (it) are pronounced identically, they are not interchangeable in written Chinese. Always use 它 for non-humans.
  • Incorrect: 我的猫是公的，所以我叫 他 咪咪。(My cat is male, so I call him Mimi.)
  • Correct (Standard): 我的猫是公的，所以我叫 它 咪咪。(My cat is male, so I call it Mimi.)
  • Analysis: While the “incorrect” version is common in very informal speech among pet lovers, the second version is always grammatically correct and should be your default.
• Forgetting the Plural Form: Just like other pronouns, 它 has a plural form: 它们 (tāmen), used for multiple animals or objects. Don't confuse this with 他们 (tāmen) (they/them, mixed or all-male group) or 她们 (tāmen) (they/them, all-female group).
  • Example: 我有三只猫，它们都喜欢睡觉。(Wǒ yǒu sān zhī māo, tāmen dōu xǐhuān shuìjiào.) - I have three cats, they all like to sleep.
• Using “It” for Babies: In English, a baby is sometimes referred to as “it”. In Chinese, this is rare and can sound cold or impersonal. It's more common to use 他 (tā) as a gender-neutral pronoun for a baby if the gender isn't known.

• 他 (tā) - He, him. The third-person pronoun for males. Identical pronunciation.
• 她 (tā) - She, her. The third-person pronoun for females. Identical pronunciation.
• 它们 (tāmen) - They, them. The plural form of 它, used for groups of animals or objects.
• 他们 (tāmen) - They, them. Used for groups of people (all-male or mixed-gender).
• 她们 (tāmen) - They, them. Used for all-female groups.
• 这 (zhè) - This. A demonstrative pronoun used to point out or introduce an object, often before referring to it with 它.
• 那 (nà) - That. A demonstrative pronoun used to point out a more distant object, often before referring to it with 它.
• 我 (wǒ) - I, me. The first-person singular pronoun.
• 你 (nǐ) - You. The second-person singular pronoun.