1.
they, them
Third-person plural pronoun, traditionally referring to males or mixed groups.
彼ら is the third-person plural pronoun, formed from 彼 (he) + ら (plural suffix).
Traditional usage
- All-male groups
- Mixed-gender groups
Modern usage
Increasingly used gender-neutrally, especially in writing.
Common patterns
Pronoun system
- 彼: he → 彼ら: they (m/mixed)
- 彼女: she → 彼女たち: they (f)
- 私: I → 私たち: we
- あの人: that person → あの人たち: those people
Usage
In everyday speech, Japanese often omits pronouns. あの人たち is less direct than 彼ら.