They Meaning(定義、用法、例句與發音)

they

pronoun

快速理解

What does "They" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "They"?

「they」是第三人稱複數代名詞,指代多於一人或一物的群體,也可用於指代性別不明或不願公開性別的單數個體。

  1. 1

    指代已知的複數群體

    EN: My friends are coming. They will arrive soon.

    翻譯: 我的朋友們要來了。他們很快就會到。

  2. 2

    指代性別不明或不願公開的單數個體

    EN: If a customer calls, please ask them to leave a message.

    翻譯: 如果有顧客來電,請請他們留言。

  3. 3

    泛指一般人(非特指)

    EN: They say it's going to rain tomorrow.

    翻譯: 他們說明天下雨。(意指「據說」或「人們說」)

  4. 4

    指代非人物體或動物(複數)

    EN: I bought new headphones. They sound amazing.

    翻譯: 我買了新耳機。它們聽起來棒極了。

小提醒:注意:當「they」用於指代單數、性別不明的人時,動詞仍使用複數形式(如 they are, they have),這與中文的習慣不同。

發音(How to Pronounce "They" in English

How to pronounce "They" in English?"They" US vs UK pronunciation

點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。

Real-life Examples of "They" from YouTube Videos

South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News

BBC News

How do you justify turning these off at a time when the UN has just found that North Koreans are more isolated than they've ever been?

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Definitions(定義)

What are the definitions of "They"?How does "They" change by context?

1. used to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified

他們;她們;它們(用於指代先前提到或容易識別的兩個或多個人或事物)

My friends are coming over, and they will be here soon.

我的朋友們要過來了,他們很快就會到。

I bought some apples, and they are very sweet.

我買了一些蘋果,它們非常甜。

2. used to refer to people in general

人們;大家(用於泛指一般人)

They say that exercise is good for your health.

人們說運動對健康有益。

In some countries, they drive on the left side of the road.

在一些國家,人們靠道路左側行駛。

3. used to refer to a single person whose gender is non-binary, unspecified, or unknown

他/她(用於指代性別為非二元、未指定或未知的單一個人)

Someone left their umbrella here. I hope they come back for it.

有人把他們的雨傘忘在這裡了。我希望他/她會回來拿。

Alex prefers that people use they/them pronouns.

Alex 偏好人們使用 they/them 作為他/她的代名詞。

4. used to refer to an institution, authority, or group of people in a general way

當局;機構;他們(用於泛指某機構、當局或一群人)

They are raising taxes again next year.

他們(政府)明年又要加稅了。

I called the company, but they said the item is out of stock.

我打電話給那家公司,但他們說那件商品缺貨。

Grammar & Patterns(句型)

What are common sentence patterns for "They"?How to make natural sentences with "They"?
PatternMeaningExample
they + verb他們(主格)They are coming tomorrow. (他們明天會來。)
they + auxiliary verb + verb他們(主格,用於複合時態)They have finished the work. (他們已經完成工作了。)
they + be + noun/adjective他們(主格,用於描述)They are my friends. (他們是我的朋友。)
they + modal verb + verb他們(主格,用於表達能力、意願等)They can speak Chinese. (他們會說中文。)
preposition + them他們(受格)The gift is for them. (這份禮物是給他們的。)
their + noun他們的(所有格)Their house is very big. (他們的房子很大。)
theirs他們的(所有代名詞)That car is theirs. (那輛車是他們的。)
themselves他們自己(反身代名詞)They made it themselves. (這是他們自己做的。)

用法說明

How is "They" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "They"?

they 的單數與複數用法

  • 複數用法:指代兩個或兩個以上的人或事物,是最常見的用法。
  • 單數用法:當性別未知或不願指明時,可用來指代單一個人,代替 "he" 或 "she"。
  • 非二元性別用法:有些人選擇使用 "they/them" 作為其個人代名詞,以表示其性別認同。
  • 一致性:當 "they" 用作單數時,動詞仍使用複數形式(如 they are, they have),但反身代名詞可用 "themself"(較新)或 "themselves"。

對比例句 EN: The students finished their project, and they are presenting it now. 翻譯: 學生們完成了他們的專案,而他們現在正在進行報告。

EN:If a customer calls, please ask them to leave a message.

翻譯:如果有顧客來電,請請他們留言。

總結建議

在正式寫作中,若使用單數 "they" 指代不特定某人,可考慮前後文是否清晰,或使用 "he or she" 等替代方案,但口語及現代用法中單數 "they" 已被廣泛接受。

易混淆對比

What is the difference between "They" and similar words?How to choose "They" vs alternatives?

they vs them

「they」為主格代名詞,用作主詞;「them」為受格代名詞,用作受詞。

they vs their

「they」為主格代名詞;「their」為所有格代名詞,表示「他們的」。

they vs he/she

「they」為第三人稱複數代名詞;「he/she」為第三人稱單數代名詞。

口語用法

How is "They" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "They"?

引述

在口語中,常用 "they" 來引述他人說的話或想法,即使不清楚對方的性別。 EN: I called the doctor's office, and they said to come in tomorrow. 翻譯: 我打電話到診所,他們說明天再過來。

EN:Someone left their umbrella here. I hope they come back for it.

翻譯:有人把傘忘在這裡了,希望他們會回來拿。

語氣強調

在對話中,有時會重複或強調 "they" 來表達驚訝、不滿或確認所指的對象。 EN: They? They were the ones who suggested it in the first place! 翻譯: 他們?當初就是他們先提議的耶!

EN:So they just decided without asking anyone? Wow.

翻譯:所以他們就這樣沒問過任何人就決定了?哇。

停頓填充

在思考或組織句子時,"they" 有時會與其他填充詞一起出現,作為暫時的停頓點。 EN: The new neighbors... they seem really nice, actually. 翻譯: 新鄰居啊…他們人其實好像挺好的。

EN:Well, they—you know—they might not agree with that plan.

翻譯:嗯,他們——你知道的——他們可能不會同意那個計畫。

正式書寫注意:在正式或學術寫作中,應避免將 "they" 用作單數不定代名詞(如指代 "a person"),除非該用法已被明確接受。建議使用 "he or she" 或重組句子以保持清晰與嚴謹。

常見短語

What common collocations use "They"?What fixed phrases with "They" should I remember?

they are

they + be + noun/adjective

他們是...

they say

they say (that) + clause

據說...;人們說...

they/them

they/them (as singular pronoun)

他/他們(用作單數代名詞,指代性別不明或非二元性別者)

they all

they + all

他們全部;他們所有人

they themselves

they + themselves

他們自己(用於強調)

they who

they who + verb

那些...的人

they don't

they + do not/does not + verb

他們不...

常見錯誤

What are common mistakes with "They"?Which "They" sentences look correct but are wrong?

×They is coming to the party.

They are coming to the party.

當 'they' 作為主詞時,無論指代單數或複數,動詞必須使用複數形式 'are',而不是單數形式 'is'。

×If a student is late, he or she must report to the office.

If a student is late, they must report to the office.

在現代英語中,當指代一個性別不明或非二元性別的單數個體時,使用單數 'they' 比使用 'he or she' 更自然、更簡潔。

×There going to the store.

They're going to the store.

'They're' 是 'they are' 的縮寫,用於表示「他們正在...」或「他們是...」。'There' 是表示地點的副詞(那裡)或存在句的引導詞(有),兩者發音相似但意思和用法完全不同。

×I gave the book to they.

I gave the book to them.

'They' 是主格,只能用作句子的主詞。當作為動詞或介系詞的受詞時,必須使用受格形式 'them'。

×This is they car.

This is their car.

表示「他們的」所有格時,必須使用所有格代名詞 'their',而不是主格 'they'。

×The team won its first game. They were very happy.

The team won their first game. They were very happy.

當將集合名詞(如 team, family, committee)視為由多個個體組成時,後續代名詞可以使用複數 'they',此時動詞和所有格也應保持一致(their, were)。若強調其為單一單位,則使用單數代名詞(it, its)。

詞形變化

What are the word forms of "They"?What are tense/participle forms of "They"?