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Questions & Answers about Zijn zij klaar?
Doesn't zij mean "she"? How do I know it means "they" here?
Yes, zij can mean both "she" and "they"! You can tell which one it is by looking at the verb. Because the plural verb zijn (are) is used here, we know the pronoun must mean "they". If the sentence were about "she", it would use the singular verb is: Is zij klaar? (Is she ready?).
Could I say Zijn ze klaar? instead of Zijn zij klaar?
Absolutely. Ze is the unstressed, everyday version of "they", while zij is used for emphasis. You would use zij if you really want to stress who you are asking about, like "Are they ready?" as opposed to someone else.
Why does the sentence start with Zijn?
I have seen klaar translated as "finished". Does it mean "ready" or "finished" here?
It can mean both! Depending on the situation, this sentence could mean "Are they ready?" (like being ready to leave the house) or "Are they finished?" (like being done eating their dinner or completing a task).