彼/彼女

He/she

Level 1Sounds Like kare/kanojo

彼（かれ） means 'he' and 彼女（かのじょ） means 'she'. However, they are used much less frequently than 'he/she' in English and often imply a romantic relationship.

How It Works

1. Usage as Pronouns
彼（かれ） and 彼女（かのじょ） were popularized during the Meiji era to translate Western literature. In modern Japanese, they are used in formal writing, news, or when speaking objectively about someone. However, using them for people close to you (like family) or superiors (like a boss) can sound cold or impolite. In those cases, use their name + さん or their title (e.g., 先生（せんせい）). If you do not know the person's name, the phrase あの人（あのひと） is the standard neutral alternative. For superiors or people of higher status, use the polite alternative あの方（あのかた） to avoid the cold nuance of 彼（かれ） or 彼女（かのじょ）. Note that 彼（かれ） and 彼女（かのじょ） are strictly for people (and occasionally animals) and cannot be used for inanimate objects ('it').

2. Romantic Nuance
In daily conversation, these words very often mean 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'. While 彼（かれ） can mean both 'he' and 'boyfriend', the term 彼氏（かれし） primarily means 'boyfriend'. However, 彼氏（かれし） can occasionally be used as a colloquial or playful pronoun for 'he' or 'that guy'.

  • 私の彼（わたしのかれ） / 私の彼氏（わたしのかれし） = My boyfriend
  • 彼の彼女（かれのかのじょ） = His girlfriend

Context is key to determining which meaning is intended.

3. Plural Forms
To say 'they', you add suffixes:

  • 彼ら（かれら）: They (males or mixed group)
  • 彼女たち（かのじょたち） / 彼女ら（かのじょら）: They (females only)

Note: Do not use 彼たち（かれたち）, as it sounds unnatural.

4. Grammatical Function
They behave like any other noun and take particles like は, が, or を. To make them possessive ('his' or 'her'), use the particle の.

Examples (5)

  1. 彼はまだ来ていません。

    He hasn't come yet.

    Word by Word: He (topic) yet come-not.

    Used here as a neutral third-person pronoun in a formal or objective context.

  2. 彼女は有名な作家です。

    She is a famous author.

    Word by Word: She (topic) famous author is.

    A common way to introduce or describe a person in a professional or literary setting.

  3. 昨日、新しい彼女を紹介してもらった。

    Yesterday, I was introduced to [his] new girlfriend.

    Word by Word: Yesterday, new girlfriend (object) introduction received.

    In this casual conversational context, 彼女 clearly refers to a romantic partner.

  4. 彼の名前を知っていますか？

    Do you know his name?

    Word by Word: His name (object) know?

    Shows the possessive form using the particle の.

  5. 彼らはどこに行きましたか？

    Where did they go?

    Word by Word: They (topic) where to went?

    Demonstrates the plural form 彼ら (they).

Common Mistakes

  • Overusing pronouns like in English.

    彼は学生です。彼は日本に住んでいます。彼は日本語を勉強します。
    田中さんは学生です。日本に住んでいて、日本語を勉強しています。

    Repeating 彼（かれ） sounds robotic. Japanese speakers prefer using the person's name or omitting the subject once it is established.

  • Using 彼（かれ） or 彼女（かのじょ） for a teacher or boss.

    （部長について話す時）彼は何と言いましたか？
    部長は何とおっしゃいましたか？

    Referring to a superior as 'he' or 'she' is considered disrespectful. Use their title (like 部長（ぶちょう） - manager) or name instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

彼/彼女Level 1He/she

Learn This First

To understand third-person pronouns like 'he' and 'she', a learner should first be familiar with basic personal pronouns and have a foundational understanding of Kanji, as these terms are rarely written in kana alone.

Words in This Pattern

彼彼女