彼ら
karera[ka̠ɾe̞ɾa̠]
The English phrase 'them' is translated into Japanese as 彼ら (karera).
彼ら is a third-person plural pronoun. It can function as both the subject ('they') and the object ('them') in a sentence.
Meaning: third personal plural pronoun used after a preposition or as the object of a verb (pron)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 彼ら is grammatically correct, using it to refer to people can sometimes feel slightly detached or literary compared to using a person's name or title.
How does it change in a sentence?
彼ら functions as both the subject 'they' and the object 'them' in Japanese.
How do you pronounce it?
karera
Did you know?
- The word 彼 (kare) originally meant 'that person' regardless of gender, but under the influence of Western languages, it shifted to mean specifically 'he'.
- Using 彼ら to refer to your own family members or in-group colleagues can be seen as a mistake, as it creates a psychological distance that is culturally jarring.
- If you are referring to a group of animals or inanimate objects, you would never use 彼ら, as it is strictly reserved for humans or personified entities.
Examples in context
- 彼らに知らせる。I'll notify them.This sentence shows how to use 彼ら when notifying someone.Tatoeba #10917136 by SomeHungryBois, translation #3911794 by CH
- 彼は彼らを騙した。He tricked them.This sentence demonstrates the use of 彼ら as the object of a verb.Tatoeba #6631369 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #6671904 by orcrist
- 彼らに聞きなさい。Ask them.This sentence illustrates the use of 彼ら when giving a command to ask a group.Tatoeba #9314862 by small_snow, translation #3820042 by CK
- 公園で彼らを見たよ。I saw them at the park.
- 149 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himari and Ren are talking about some classmates.
- 陽葵 Himari彼らはもう来たのかな？Karera wa mō kita no kana?I wonder if they have arrived yet.
- 蓮 Renまだだよ。彼らと一緒に来る予定だった。Mada da yo. Karera to issho ni kuru yotei datta.Not yet. I was planning to come together with them.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、彼らに電話してみるね。Jā, karera ni denwa shite miru ne.Then, I'll try calling them.
- 蓮 Renお願い。急がせてみて。Onegai. Isogasete mite.Please do. Try to hurry them up.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 彼ら, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
