What Does "他" Mean in English?
When learning a new language, it's important to understand the meaning of common words and phrases. One such word in Chinese is "他" (tā), which can be translated to English as "he" or "him". However, the meaning of "他" goes beyond just a simple translation. Let's explore the different ways "他" can be used in English.
Personal Pronoun
As a personal pronoun, "他" is used to refer to a male person or animal. For example:
- 他是我的朋友。(tā shì wǒ de péng yǒu.) - He is my friend.
- 我有一只猫，它很可爱，但是它很胆小，所以我要保护他。(wǒ yǒu yī zhī māo, tā hěn kě ài, dàn shì tā hěn dǎn xiǎo, suǒ yǐ wǒ yào bǎo hù tā.) - I have a cat, it's very cute, but it's also very timid, so I need to protect him.
Third Person Singular
When used as a third person singular pronoun, "他" can also refer to a non-specific person or object. For example:
- 如果有人来找我，请告诉他我不在家。(rú guǒ yǒu rén lái zhǎo wǒ, qǐng gào sù tā wǒ bù zài jiā.) - If someone comes looking for me, please tell him I'm not at home.
- 这个问题很难，但是他不是不能解决。(zhè gè wèn tí hěn nán, dàn shì tā bù shì bù néng jiě jué.) - This problem is difficult, but it's not impossible to solve.
Reflexive Pronoun
Finally, "他" can also be used as a reflexive pronoun to refer to oneself. In this case, it's usually paired with the word "自己" (zì jǐ) to emphasize the action being done to oneself. For example:
- 他自己做饭吃。(tā zì jǐ zuò fàn chī.) - He cooks and eats by himself.
- 她自己修理了自行车。(tā zì jǐ xiū lǐ le zì xíng chē.) - She fixed her bicycle by herself.
Conclusion
So, what does "他" mean in English? It can mean "he" or "him" when referring to a male person or animal, a non-specific person or object as a third person singular pronoun, or oneself as a reflexive pronoun. Understanding the different ways "他" can be used is essential for effective communication in Chinese.