他 (tā), the third-person singular pronoun meaning “he/him” in modern Chinese, has a surprisingly complex and revealing history. Its evolution reflects not only changes in language but also shifts in social dynamics and gender roles.

Here’s a breakdown of its journey:

• Early form and meaning: The earliest forms of 他 depicted a person carrying a weapon or tool, much like the early form of 你 (nǐ). However, unlike 你, which came to represent “you,” 他 initially referred to “other people” in general, regardless of gender.
• Gender neutrality: For centuries, 他 was used as a gender-neutral pronoun, encompassing both “he” and “she.” This reflects the fact that classical Chinese did not distinguish between genders in pronouns.
• Emergence of gender-specific pronouns: In the early 20th century, during a period of significant social and cultural change in China, there was a movement to create gender-specific pronouns. This led to the introduction of 她 (tā) for “she/her” and 它 (tā) for “it.”
• Differentiation: The addition of the “woman” radical (女) to 她 clearly distinguished it as the feminine pronoun. 他, with its original form remaining largely unchanged, became specifically associated with the masculine.

The evolution of 他 highlights the dynamic interplay between language and society. It demonstrates how language can adapt to reflect changing social norms and how even seemingly simple pronouns can carry a rich history and cultural significance.