Languages 1001

If you’ve ever waved your arms wildly in a shop and said, “I want THAT cookie,” or watched a movie while muttering “THIS is my jam!”—congratulations, you’ve mastered English demonstrative pronouns. Now it’s time to do the same in Chinese, with a little less arm-waving (but just as much enthusiasm). What are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns point out which person, place, or thing you are talking about. “This” and “that” are the big ones, and Chinese has their handy-dandy equivalents:

• 这 (zhè) = this (thing/person close to the speaker)
• 那 (nà) = that (thing/person far from the speaker)

Feeling plural? Just stick 些 (xiē) after 这 or 那:

• 这些 (zhèxiē) = these
• 那些 (nàxiē) = those

Pointing to Places?
Chinese makes it easy—simply add a location character:

• 这儿 / 这里 (zhèr / zhèlǐ) = here
• 那儿 / 那里 (nàr / nàlǐ) = there

Both versions mean the same thing, but northern China likes 这儿/那儿, southern China prefers 这里/那里. Want to Talk About Something Else?

• 别的 (bié de) = other, another, else (Do you want anything else?)

How about SOME of a group?

• 有的 (yǒude) = some (of them) (Some students are resting; some are reading.)

Let’s See Our Characters Use Them!

• 张莉莉：这是谁的手机？ (Whose phone is this?)
• 王建国：她喜欢那个书包。 (She likes that backpack.)
• 王浩然：这儿很好。 (It’s nice here.)
• 张晓彤：我去那儿学习。 (I am going to study there.)
• 陈秀兰：你坐这里，弟弟坐那里。 (You sit here, little brother sits there.)
• 刘志强：这些书很新。 (These books are very new.)
• 莉莉：那些东西都很贵。 (Those things are all expensive.)
• 建国：你还要别的东西吗？ (Do you want anything else?)
• 浩然：有的同学在休息，有的同学在看书。 (Some students are resting, some are reading.)

Pro-tip: Don’t mix up “这 (zhè)” and “那 (nà)” when pointing at new things in class. Your teacher might hand you their own coffee instead! In Summary:

Meaning	Character(s)	Pinyin
this	这	zhè
that	那	nà
these	这些	zhèxiē
those	那些	nàxiē
here	这儿 / 这里	zhèr / zhèlǐ
there	那儿 / 那里	nàr / nàlǐ
other, else	别的	bié de
some (of them)	有的	yǒude

Ready to show off? Try filling in the blanks and show the demonstrative pronouns who’s boss!

1. 莉莉 wants to ask: "Whose phone is this?"
这是谁的手机？

2. 浩然 points to a group of books on the desk: "These books are very new."
书很新。

3. 建国 points at a backpack across the room: "She likes that backpack."
她喜欢 书包。

4. 晓彤 wants to study somewhere else: "I'm going to study there."
我去 学习。

5. 秀兰 is organizing seating: "You sit here, little brother sits there."
你坐 ，弟弟坐 。

6. 志强 in a shop: "Do you want anything else?"
你还要 东西吗？

7. Haoran says: "Some students are resting, some are reading books."
同学在休息， 同学在看书。

SubmitShow Answer

Quick Challenge: Next time you want something in Chinese class or a Chinese restaurant, try using 这 or 那—you might get something delicious... or mysterious!