他
other, another, the others
Readings
On'yomi
- タ
Kun'yomi
- ほか
Meaning
他 centers on the idea of something outside the current focus: another person, a different thing, or the rest of a group. It marks what is not the self or not the one under discussion.
Most common words using 他
20 of 177- 他たN3
other (esp. people and abstract matters)
- 他ほかN1
another place; some other place; somewhere else; outside
- その他そのほかN2
the rest; the others
- 他人たにんN3
another person; other people; others
- 他社たしゃ
another company; other company
- 他者たしゃN1
another person; others
- 他国たこく
foreign country; another country
- 他方たほうN1
one (esp. of two); the other; one way; the other way; one direction; the other direction; one side; the other side; one party; the other party
- 他所たしょ
another place; somewhere else; elsewhere
- 他界たかいN1
death; the next world
- 排他はいた
exclusion
- 他校たこう
another school; other schools
- 自他じた
oneself and others
- 他愛たあい
altruism
- 他愛たわい
sanity; soundness of mind; prudence and discretion
- 他殺たさつN1
murder
- 利他りた
altruism
- 他力本願たりきほんがん
salvation by faith in Amitabha
- 他意たいN1
other intention; hidden purpose; ulterior motive; ill will; malice
- 他家たけ
another family; another house
Study
Etymology
他 combines the person radical 亻 with 也, which likely contributed the sound and originally depicted a snake or a container. The exact historical development of the compound is uncertain, but the character has long been used to express otherness or a third person.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 beside a scorpion-like shape 也: imagine pointing to someone else across the room, saying 'that other person, not me.' The scorpion shape helps you remember it's a different, separate entity.
Reading mnemonic
For タ, picture a tarot card reader pointing to another card: 'that other card' -> タ. The person radical 亻 is the reader, and 也 is the mysterious other card.