它 (tā) — it

它 (tā)

The third-person singular pronoun for animals, objects, and abstract things; it sounds identical to 他 (he) and 她 (she) — all pronounced tā — but is written distinctly for clarity in text.

Meanings

1. [pronoun] It (subject or object, referring to non-human entities).
2. [pronoun] Its (before 的: 它的).

Example Sentences

这只猫很可爱，它叫小白。 Zhè zhī māo hěn kě'ài, tā jiào Xiǎo Bái. This cat is very cute; it is called Xiao Bai.

我有一辆自行车，它是红色的。 Wǒ yǒu yī liàng zìxíngchē, tā shì hóngsè de. I have a bicycle; it is red.

这个问题很难，你怎么看它？ Zhège wèntí hěn nán, nǐ zěnme kàn tā? This problem is very difficult. How do you see it?

它的颜色很漂亮。 Tā de yánsè hěn piàoliang. Its color is very beautiful.

Collocations

Memory Hook

它 has the "roof" radical 宀 on top and 匕 below, looking like something sitting under a roof — an object in a house. Non-human, so it gets its own character.