them for Mandarin speakers — pronunciation and common errors

Pronunciation

Mandarin lacks the /ð/ phoneme; speakers substitute the voiced alveolar plosive /d/ or the voiceless /s/, producing /dem/ or /sem/.

False friend

它们 (tā men) means “they / them (used specifically for inanimate objects or animals)” — Mandarin distinguishes between human '他们' and non-human '它们' in writing. Learners may mistakenly believe 'them' only refers to people or over-correct by avoiding it for objects.

Grammar

Mandarin third-person pronouns (他 tā, 她 tā, 它 tā) do not inflect for case, so learners often use the subject form 'they' in the object position where 'them' is required.

Examples

• I saw my friends and waved to them.
• If you find the keys on the table, please bring them to me in the kitchen.