它们 (tā men) — they (for inanimate objects)

Definition

Plural of 它: 'they' for things (not people). Use 他们 for people, 她们 for women, and 这些 for 'these' specifically.

pronoun

they (for inanimate objects)

Easily confused

。它们。
Shū hé bǐ dōu zài zhè. tā men dōu hěn dà.
The books and pens are here. They are all very big.
。它们。
Shuǐ hé chá dōu hěn rè. tā men dōu hěn rè.
The water and tea are both very hot. They are all very hot.
，它们。
Bēi zi zài zhè, tā men bú shì wǒ de.
The cups are here; they are not mine.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

它 refers to things, and 们 shows the plural.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

它 originally drew a snake. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write the pronoun “it”, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 們; 们 is its simplified writing.

亻門們

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

門

門mén們men

Same sound today

The traditional form 們 uses 亻 for a person and 門 for the sound; the simplified 们 is a later shorthand.

Appears in