Mandarin uses a single pronoun for both "he" and "she": 他 (tā)
This pronoun is used for both masculine and feminine individuals. To understand the gender, you need context clues such as:
* Nouns: If the noun is a person's name or a title that clearly indicates gender, you'll know the pronoun's gender. For example:
* 他叫李明 (Tā jiào Lǐ Míng) - He is called Li Ming.
* 她叫王丽 (Tā jiào Wáng Lì) - She is called Wang Li.
* Context: The surrounding sentences or the topic of conversation might give you clues about the person's gender.
* 他是医生 (Tā shì yīshēng) - He is a doctor.
* 她很漂亮 (Tā hěn piàoliang) - She is beautiful.
* Descriptive words: Sometimes words that describe a person's appearance or activities can hint at their gender.
* 他穿着一件蓝色的衬衫 (Tā chuānzhe yī jiàn lánsè de chèn shān) - He is wearing a blue shirt.
* 她正在化妆 (Tā zhèngzài huàzhuāng) - She is putting on makeup.
Formal vs. Informal Pronouns
There is a slight difference in the use of "他 (tā)" when referring to people in a formal or informal setting.
* Formal: For a person of high status or someone you don't know well, use "他 (tā)."
* Informal: For someone you know well, you might use "他 (tā)" or use their name instead.
It's important to note: While you can't distinguish "he" from "she" with pronouns alone, it's not usually a major issue in Mandarin communication. Context and other clues help make the meaning clear.