it (a pronoun for things, not people)
它 is the word for things that are not 'he' or 'she': 它们, 其它. The old form once looked like a snake.
GF0025–2021 character list · 二级WHOLE GLYPH & STRUCTURE
ZDIC: 象形；像虫形 — the old form looked like a snake (the page title also keeps old readings such as shé). The modern shape is shown as written pieces only; no snake story is claimed for the modern parts.
WHOLE CHARACTER
it (a pronoun for things, not people)
它 is the word for things that are not 'he' or 'she': 它们, 其它. The old form once looked like a snake.
ZDIC: 象形；像虫形 — the old form looked like a snake (the page title also keeps old readings such as shé). The modern shape is shown as written pieces only; no snake story is claimed for the modern parts.
TOP: THE ROOF-SHAPED CROWN — SHOWN AS A WRITTEN PIECE ONLY
covered house; shelter
Often called the roof component. Its dictionary meaning concerns a covered house; its role in this character is shown below.
In 它: top: the roof-shaped crown — shown as a written piece only Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.
BOTTOM: THE WRITTEN LOWER PIECE — NOT TAUGHT AS THE WORD 匕 HERE
spoon; dagger
ZDIC describes 比 as two person-like pieces side by side; no modern semantic addition is claimed.
In 它: bottom: the written lower piece — not taught as the word 匕 here Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.
Checking for a Mandarin voice…