其他 (qí tā) means 'other' or 'else' and functions as a noun or pronoun to refer to additional people, things, or categories not previously specified. The character 其 (qí) is a classical pronoun meaning 'its', 'his', 'her', or 'their', while 他 (tā) means 'he', 'she', or 'it' — together, they form a compound meaning 'the other (ones)' or 'others'. Unlike English 'other', which often requires a noun (e.g., 'other animals'), 其他 can stand alone as a noun ('others') or modify a noun directly ('other animals').

It commonly appears in comparisons, lists, or generalizations — for example, when distinguishing one item from the rest of a group. It’s neutral in register and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese. Note that 其他 always modifies a noun or stands in place of a plural noun; it cannot be used before a singular countable noun without a classifier or measure word (e.g., you say 其他动物, not *其他狗). It’s frequently used in contexts involving categories, such as animal species, people, objects, or options.