🇨🇳 Chinese grammar

Pronouns in Chinese: A Clear Guide

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 28, 2026

In Chinese, pronouns are essential for constructing sentences. Subject pronouns indicate who is performing the action, while object pronouns indicate who is receiving the action. Understanding these pronouns is crucial for effective communication.

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The rule

Subject pronouns in Chinese include '我' (wǒ) for 'I', '你' (nǐ) for 'you', '他' (tā) for 'he', '她' (tā) for 'she', and '它' (tā) for 'it'. Object pronouns are similar, with '我' (wǒ) for 'me', '你' (nǐ) for 'you', '他' (tā) for 'him', '她' (tā) for 'her', and '它' (tā) for 'it'. The context of the sentence usually clarifies whether the pronoun is a subject or an object. Pronouns in Chinese do not change form based on their grammatical role, which simplifies their usage.

Pronouns at a glance

Pronoun TypePronoun
Subject Pronoun我 (wǒ) - I
Subject Pronoun你 (nǐ) - you
Subject Pronoun他 (tā) - he
Subject Pronoun她 (tā) - she
Subject Pronoun它 (tā) - it
Object Pronoun我 (wǒ) - me
Object Pronoun你 (nǐ) - you
Object Pronoun他 (tā) - him
Object Pronoun她 (tā) - her
Object Pronoun它 (tā) - it

This table shows common subject and object pronouns in Chinese.

Examples you can say out loud

我喜欢你。 Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ.
I like you.
她给我一本书。 Tā gěi wǒ yī běn shū.
She gives me a book.
他在看电视。 Tā zài kàn diànshì.
He is watching TV.
你要喝水吗? Nǐ yào hē shuǐ ma?
Do you want to drink water?
它在那儿。 Tā zài nà'er.
It is over there.
Common mistake
Confusing '他' (tā) and '她' (tā) when referring to males and females.
Tip
Always pay attention to the context to determine whether a pronoun is a subject or an object.

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Frequently asked questions

Do pronouns change based on their position in a sentence?

No, pronouns in Chinese do not change form regardless of their position.