He and She in Chinese: A Kid-Friendly Guide to 他 (tā) and 她 (tā)

Learning a new language is like solving a fun puzzle—each piece, from words to grammar, fits together to help you communicate. For kids and their parents diving into Chinese, one of the first puzzles often involves two small but important words: the equivalents of “he” and “she.” Unlike English, where “he” and “she” sound different, Chinese uses two characters that sound the same but are written differently. WuKong Education will break down 他 (tā) and 她 (tā) in simple terms, so young learners can use them with confidence.

What Are “He” and “She” in Chinese?

In English, we use “he” for boys, men, and male animals, and “she” for girls, women, and female animals. It’s a straightforward way to show gender in sentences. Chinese does something similar, but with a twist. The words for “he” and “she” in Chinese are 他 (tā) and 她 (tā), and here’s the surprise: they sound identical.

Why does this matter? Imagine a child saying, “Tā is my friend” in Chinese. Without seeing the written word, how would you know if they mean a boy or a girl? That’s why understanding the difference between 他 and 她 is key for clear communication. Whether reading a story, writing a note, or having a conversation, knowing when to use each character helps avoid mix-ups.

The Characters and Pronunciation: He 他 (tā) and She 她 (tā)

Let’s take a closer look at these two characters. Chinese characters are made of smaller parts called “radicals,” which often give clues about meaning or pronunciation. Both 他 and 她 share a right-side radical: 也 (yě), which helps with pronunciation. But their left-side radicals tell us their gender.

他 (tā) – “He” (for males)

The character 他 is made of two parts:

• The left radical: 亻 (rén), which looks like a standing person. This radical is used in many characters related to people, like 你 (nǐ, “you”) and 们 (men, a plural marker).
• The right part: 也 (yě), which doesn’t have a clear meaning here but helps with pronunciation.

When you say 他，it sounds like “tah” in English that short and snappy. For example, if you’re talking about a boy named Li Ming, you’d say, “他是李明” (Tā shì Lǐ Míng. – He is Li Ming).

她 (tā) – “She” (for females)

The character 她 also has two parts.

• The top radical: 女 (nǚ), which means “woman” or “female.” You’ll see this radical in other female-related words, like 妈妈 (māma, “mom”) and 姐妹 (jiěmèi, “sisters”).
• The right part: 也 (yě), same as in 他，which is why they sound the same.

Pronouncing 她 is just like 他: “tah.” If you’re talking about a girl named Wang Hong, you’d say, “她是王红” (Tā shì Wáng Hóng. – She is Wang Hong).

The key takeaway? Even though 他 and 她 sound identical, their radicals (亻 vs. 女) tell us whether we’re talking about a male or female.

How Chinese “He” and “She” Differ from English

If you’re accustomed to English, the way Chinese handles “he” and “she” can take some getting used to. Let’s explore the main differences to make it easier to understand.

Sound vs. Character

In English, “he” (pronounced “hee”) and “she” (pronounced “shee”) have distinct sounds, allowing us to tell them apart by listening alone. In Chinese, 他 and 她 are pronounced the same (“tah”). This means that when speaking, listeners depend on the context, such as knowing who is being referred to, to determine whether “he” or “she” is intended. When writing or reading, the characters themselves, with their different radicals, make the gender clear.

For example, if a child says, “Tā has a red pencil” in Chinese, a listener might ask, “Is it a boy or a girl?” to clarify. But if written as “他有一支红色的铅笔” (Tā yǒu yī zhī hóngsè de qiānbǐ), it’s clear that a boy has the red pencil.

Gender Specificity

In English, “he” and “she” are mainly used for humans, but can also be used for animals to indicate gender. Chinese is similar, but 他 and 她 are almost exclusively used for humans. For animals and things, 它 (tā, “it”) is typically used.

Another difference is that in Chinese writing, the gender is made very clear with the 女 radical in 她. In English, you have to hear the word to know the gender, but in written Chinese, the character itself leaves no room for doubt.

Using He and She in Chinese Sentences

Practicing with examples is a great way to get comfortable using he and she. Here are some examples involving people kids are familiar with, such as family, friends, and teachers, presented in a table for clarity.

Scenario	Character	Sentence in Chinese	Pinyin	English Translation
Talking about a brother	他	他是我的弟弟。	Tā shì wǒ de dìdi.	He is my younger brother.
Describing a father’s hobby	他	他喜欢打篮球。	Tā xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.	He likes playing basketball.
Mentioning a male teacher	他	他是我们的数学老师。	Tā shì wǒmen de shùxué lǎoshī.	He is our math teacher.
Referring to a sister	她	她有很多玩具。	Tā yǒu hěnduō wánjù.	She has many toys.
Talking about a mother’s job	她	她是一名医生。	Tā shì yī míng yīshēng.	She is a doctor.
Describing a female classmate	她	她很喜欢画画。	Tā hěn xǐhuān huàhuà.	She likes drawing very much.

In spoken Chinese, context is essential. Let’s say a child is talking about their friend, “Xiao Hua”. If they first mention, “Xiao Hua is a boy”, then saying “他很聪明” (Tā hěn cōngming. – He is very smart) clearly refers to Xiao Hua. Similarly, if they say, “Xiao Hong is a girl”, then “她跑得很快” (Tā pǎo de hěn kuài. – She runs very fast) is understood to mean Xiao Hong.

Teachers often suggest that kids practice using 他 and 她 by talking about people they know well because the context is familiar, making it easier to remember which character to use.

Common Mistakes Kids Make with he and she

Even with practice, it’s common for kids (and even adults) to mix up he and she in Chinese. Here are the most frequent mistakes and how to correct them.

1. Confusing the radicals
   Kids often write 他 when they mean 她，or the other way around. For example, writing “他是我的妹妹” (Tā shì wǒ de mèimei) instead of “她是我的妹妹” when referring to a younger sister. The solution is to remind kids to look for the 女 radical in 她 – if the person is female, that radical should be present.
2. Assuming different pronunciations
   Some kids think that since 他 and 她 refer to different genders, they must sound different, like in English. They might try to pronounce 他 as “tah” and 她 as something else, but that’s incorrect. Practicing saying both words out loud together can help them understand that they are pronounced the same.
3. Incorrectly using “it” (它) for people
   Kids may confuse 他 / 她 with 它 (tā, “it”), which is used for things or animals. For example, saying “它是我的妈妈” (Tā shì wǒ de māma) instead of “她是我的妈妈” when referring to their mother. It’s important to remind them that people are referred to with 他 or 她，while things and animals use 它.

Tips for Mastering He and She in Chinese with Help from WuKong Chinese

Platforms like WuKong Chinese are designed to make learning these pronouns easy and fun for kids aged 3-18. Their lessons break down characters like he and she through interactive games, videos, and stories. For example, kids might play a “character matching” game where they pair 他 with pictures of boys, or use 她 in a story about a girl’s day at school. WuKong Chinese’s certified native teachers emphasize the importance of context, helping kids understand when to use each pronoun through role-plays and conversations. This structured practice builds confidence, allowing kids to use 他 and 她 naturally without hesitation.

FAQs

Do he and she in Chinese have different pronunciations?

No. Both 他 (he) and 她 (she) are pronounced “tā” in Chinese. Only their written characters differ, with 他 using the “person” radical and 她 the “female” radical.

How to avoid mixing up he and she in writing?

Focus on radicals. 他 has “亻” (person) for males; 她 has “女” (female) for females. Practice linking each to gendered images (e.g., a boy for 他).

Can kids learn he and she in Chinese easily?

Yes, with context. Use familiar people (e.g., “Dad: 他…”, “Mom: 她…”). Tools like WuKong Chinese make it fun with games and stories.

Conclusion

He and she in Chinese – 他 (tā) and 她 (tā) – may seem confusing initially, but with practice, they become easy to use. Remember: they have the same pronunciation, but their radicals (亻 for males and 女 for females) indicate the gender. By using context, practicing with examples, and utilizing resources like WuKong Chinese, young learners can master these pronouns and make significant progress in their Chinese language journey.

Whether your child is just starting to learn Chinese or looking to improve their skills, understanding 他 and 她 is an important step towards clear and effective communication in the language. Enjoy the learning process!