Translation guide
The English pronoun 'they' has no single direct equivalent in Japanese. The most natural approach is often to omit the subject entirely when it is clear from context. When you must specify, use names, titles, or descriptive phrases. Direct translations like 彼ら (karera) exist but are far less common than 'they' in English and can sound unnatural if overused.
You are talking about a group of people whose identity is already clear from the conversation or situation.
They are my friends. · They went to the store. · They said it was okay.
In Japanese, subjects are frequently dropped when they can be inferred. This is the most natural way to handle 'they' in many sentences.
もう帰りました。
They already went home.
何をしているんですか。
What are they doing?
Attach たち (tachi) or ら (ra) to a person's name or a role to mean 'and their group'. たち is more common and neutral; ら can sound slightly formal or written.
山田さんたちはもう来ています。
Yamada and the others (they) are already here.
先生たちが会議をしています。
The teachers (they) are having a meeting.
Direct translation of 'they' for a group of males or mixed gender. Use sparingly; overuse sounds unnatural or overly influenced by English. Often replaced by names or omission.
Using 彼ら repeatedly in conversation can sound stiff. Prefer omission or name+たち.
彼らは学生です。
They are students.
Specifically for a group of females. Like 彼ら, it is less common than omission or name+たち.
彼女たちは看護師です。
They (the women) are nurses.
Means 'those people'. Used when pointing out a group physically or conceptually distant from both speaker and listener.
あの人たちは誰ですか。
Who are they (those people over there)?
You are making a general statement about people, authorities, or an unspecified 'they' (as in 'they say...').
They say it's going to rain tomorrow. · They should do something about the traffic. · They don't make them like they used to.
Japanese often avoids an explicit 'they' by using passive forms or phrases like ～と言われている (it is said that...).
この町は安全だと言われている。
They say this town is safe.
来年税金が上がるらしい。
They say taxes will go up next year.
Means 'people' in general. Can translate 'they' when referring to a collective, but often sounds more like 'people' than a specific 'they'.
Refers to 'society' or 'the world' as a collective 'they'. Used in expressions like 世間では (in society, they...).
You are referring to a single person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary.
Someone left their umbrella. I hope they come back for it. · The doctor will see you now. They are ready. · My friend is non-binary and they prefer this pronoun.
The most natural approach. If the person's name is known, use it. Otherwise, drop the subject.
まだ来ていません。
They haven't arrived yet.
田中さんはエンジニアです。
They (Tanaka) are an engineer.
Means 'that person'. Gender-neutral and can be used when pointing out someone or referring to someone known to both speaker and listener.
Means 'that person' (closer to listener). Also gender-neutral.
If you know the person's name or role, use it with an appropriate title. This avoids gender entirely.
お客様がお待ちです。
They (the customer) are waiting.
You are talking about non-human plural things.
I bought some apples. They were delicious. · Where are my keys? They were on the table. · These rules are important. They must be followed.
Often the subject is omitted. If necessary, use それら (those), これら (these), or あれら (those over there) for inanimate objects. For animals, それら can be used, but often animals are referred to individually or with specific counters.
それらは大切な書類です。
They are important documents.
猫が二匹います。とてもかわいいです。
There are two cats. They are very cute.
Plural of それ (that). Used for inanimate objects or abstract things. Somewhat formal or written.
English speakers often want to translate every 'they' as 彼ら or 彼女たち. In natural Japanese, these words are used much less frequently. Overuse can make your Japanese sound translated and unnatural. When in doubt, drop the subject or use a name+たち.
友達が来た。映画を見に行った。
My friends came over. They went to see a movie.
たち (tachi) is the most common pluralizing suffix for people and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. ら (ra) is also used but can carry a slightly more formal, written, or sometimes derogatory nuance depending on context. For learners, たち is the safer choice.
子供たちが遊んでいる。
The children (they) are playing.
彼らは何をしているのか。
What are they doing? (slightly formal/literary)
Japanese relies heavily on context. If you've already introduced a topic, you can continue talking about it without repeating the subject. This is often the most natural way to handle 'they'.
A: 田中さんたちは？ B: もう帰ったよ。
A: What about Tanaka and the others? B: They already went home.
会議は中止になったそうです。
They said the meeting was canceled.
Using ～そうです (I heard that...) avoids specifying 'they'.
They (the people) were surprised by the news.
That's what they think (in society).
Who are they? (Who is that person?)
Why don't you ask them?
They are all free.