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March 24, 2026
这(這)zhè(zhe4)
The character 这 (zhè) means 'this' or 'these' in Mandarin. It is used to indicate something that is close to the speaker, whether in space or in time. It is common in everyday conversation and is often paired with classifiers to specify nouns.
Strokes7Radical辶Frequency#12DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pointing to objects with 'this' is common in everyday life, whether in markets or restaurants, reflecting the importance of clarity in communication. This character is widely used in both formal and informal settings.
Memory Tip
Think of 这 (zhè) as a pointing finger indicating something nearby. The left side of the character resembles a hand reaching out, emphasizing its meaning of 'this' or 'here'. Imagine saying 'this one' while pointing to an object in front of you.
Meanings of 这
zhè(zhe4)
1this
2these
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 这
这Simplified
這Traditional
7Strokes
辶Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#12Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 这
Podcast: 这
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AI Study Notes for 这
Quick Contrast
这 (zhè) vs 那 (nà) — use 这 for items close to the speaker, while 那 indicates items that are farther away.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 这 (zhè) as a pointing finger indicating something nearby. The left side of the character resembles a hand reaching out, emphasizing its meaning of 'this' or 'here'. Imagine saying 'this one' while pointing to an object in front of you.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 这 (zhè) with 那 (nà), which means 'that' or 'those'. Remember that 这 is used for things that are near, while 那 is for things that are far away. In informal speech, especially in Beijing, it may be pronounced as [zhèi] before classifiers.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 这 (zhè) is foundational for beginners to describe objects in their immediate vicinity. Students should practice using it with various classifiers to build a stronger vocabulary base and understand sentence structure.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pointing to objects with 'this' is common in everyday life, whether in markets or restaurants, reflecting the importance of clarity in communication. This character is widely used in both formal and informal settings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the appropriate classifier with 这 (zhè), leading to sentences like '这书' instead of '这本书'. Always remember to include the classifier when necessary.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 这
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Grammar Patterns of 这
这 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In informal speech, 这 is often pronounced as [zhei4] before classifiers in Beijing dialect, but learners should use the standard pronunciation [zhè] in formal contexts.
tā hé wǒ bǎ zhè gè jí shǒu de wèn tí zhěng gè ér dū tǎo lùn qīng chǔ le。
He and I have talked through this whole tricky problem.
11
这本书很好看。
Zhè běn shū hěn hǎokàn.
This book is very interesting.
12
这是什么？
Zhè shì shénme?
What is this?
13
这只狗很可爱。
Zhè zhī gǒu hěn kě'ài.
This dog is very cute.
14
这是一杯咖啡。
Zhè shì yī bēi kāfēi.
This is a cup of coffee.
15
这个苹果很甜。
Zhè gè píngguǒ hěn tián.
This apple is very sweet.
16
这位老师教得很好。
Zhè wèi lǎoshī jiāo de hěn hǎo.
This teacher teaches very well.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
It is not for me to arrange such matters.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 这
💡Did you know?
In Mandarin, 这 (zhè) is used frequently in conversation to indicate something nearby. It is a basic yet essential word for beginners learning to describe their surroundings.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, pointing to objects with 'this' is common in everyday life, whether in markets or restaurants, reflecting the importance of clarity in communication. This character is widely used in both formal and informal settings.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In English, we often use 'this' in similar contexts, but in Chinese, the context of physical proximity or relation is much more emphasized with 这.
Word Family of 这
Words Containing This Character16
这zhèthis這
这个this這個
这样zhèyàngso這樣
这些zhèxiēthese這些
这么zhèmeso much這麼
这里zhèlǐhere這裏
这种this這種
这儿zhèrhere這兒
这边zhèbiānhere這邊
这时at this time這時
这般like this這般
这会儿zhèhuìr(coll.) now這會兒
这天today這天
如此这般thus and so如此這般
这么着thus這麼著
这么样thus這麼樣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 这 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 这
这 (zhè) means 'this' and is used for objects that are near the speaker, while 那 (nà) means 'that' and is used for objects that are farther away. Choosing the correct word depends on the proximity of the object you are referring to.
Yes, 这 is one of the most frequently used words in everyday Chinese conversation. It helps to specify items or ideas that are currently being discussed, making communication clearer.
这 (zhè) means 'this' or 'these' in Chinese. It is used to refer to something that is close in distance or time to the speaker. In some dialects, especially in Beijing, it may be pronounced as [zhei4] or [zhèi] before a classifier.
To use 这 in a sentence, you typically place it before a noun. For example, 这是书 (zhè shì shū) means 'this is a book.' It can also be used in questions, like 这个多少钱? (zhège duōshǎo qián?), meaning 'How much is this?'
Use 这 (zhè) for objects that are close to you and 那 (nà) for objects that are farther away.
This pronunciation variation is common in certain dialects, especially in Beijing, and is used before classifiers.
Yes, 这 can also refer to abstract ideas or situations that are present or relevant to the speaker.
