1.
they, them
Third-person plural pronoun, traditionally referring to males or mixed groups.
彼らは学生です。
They are students.
彼らに聞いてみましょう。
Let's ask them.
彼らの意見は違う。
Their opinions are different.
彼らは毎日一緒に練習している。
They practice together every day.
彼らが来る前に部屋を片付けておこう。
Let's tidy the room before they come.
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.
GRAMMAR:
- 彼らは: they (subject)
- 彼らの: their
- 彼らに: to them
- 彼らを: them (object)
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
NOTE:
In everyday speech, Japanese often omits pronouns. あの人たち is less direct than 彼ら.