What is the difference between 這, 這個, and 這裡?
「這 zhè」、「這個 zhège」and「這裡 zhèlǐ」are all related to “this,” but they are used differently.
For beginners, remember this first:
- 這 zhè: this; this thing; this idea; this situation
- 這個 zhège: this one
- 這裡 zhèlǐ: here; this place
- 這 + measure word + noun: this noun
The same patterns can also be used with「那 nà」, which means “that.”
1. 這 zhè: this
「這」means “this.” It can refer to a thing, an idea, a situation, or something already understood from context.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這很好。 ♬ | zhè hěn hǎo | This is good. |
| 這很棒。 ♬ | zhè hěn bàng | This is great. |
| 這很有趣。 ♬ | zhè hěn yǒuqù | This is interesting. / This is funny. |
In these sentences,「這」can mean “this thing,” “this situation,” or “this idea.” The exact meaning depends on context.
2. 這個 zhège: this one
「這個」means “this one.” It is often used when choosing or pointing to one object.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我要這個。 ♬ | wǒ yào zhège | I want this one. |
| 這個有問題。 ♬ | zhège yǒu wèntí | This one has a problem. |
| 這個是我的。 ♬ | zhège shì wǒ de | This one is mine. |
「這個」is made from「這 + 個」.「個 ge」is a very common measure word.
3. 這 + measure word + noun
When you want to say “this + noun,” Chinese usually uses a measure word between「這」and the noun.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 這 + Measure word + Noun | this noun |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這個娃娃 ♬ | zhège wáwa | this doll |
| 這本書 ♬ | zhè běn shū | this book |
| 這件事 ♬ | zhè jiàn shì | this thing; this matter |
| 這杯咖啡 ♬ | zhè bēi kāfēi | this cup of coffee |
In daily speech,「這個」is often pronounced close to「zhège」or「zhè ge」.「個」can be light and short.
4. Can you omit the measure word?
Sometimes native speakers omit the measure word in casual speech, especially with very familiar nouns. However, beginners should first learn the full pattern with a measure word.
| Full form | Shorter form | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這個娃娃 ♬ | 這娃娃 ♬ | this doll |
| 這件事 ♬ | 這事 ♬ | this matter |
For learners, the safer form is「這 + measure word + noun」, such as「這個娃娃」、「這本書」and「這件事」.
5. 這 + adjective: this is...
「這」can be used directly before an adjective or state word.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 這 + 很 / 有點 / 不 + Adjective | This is adjective. |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這很棒。 ♬ | zhè hěn bàng | This is great. |
| 這有點難。 ♬ | zhè yǒudiǎn nán | This is a little difficult. |
| 這不錯。 ♬ | zhè búcuò | This is not bad. / This is pretty good. |
「這很有趣」can mean “This is interesting” or “This is funny.” In Chinese,「有趣」is usually a safer beginner word than trying to translate “fun” word by word.
6. 這件事: this thing / this matter
When「這」means “this situation” or “this matter,” Chinese often says「這件事」.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這件事很重要。 ♬ | zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào | This matter is important. |
| 我很喜歡這件事。 ♬ | wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhè jiàn shì | I really like this thing / this matter. |
In many cases, using「這件事」is clearer than using「這」alone.
7. 這裡 zhèlǐ: here / this place
「這裡」means “here” or “this place.” In traditional Chinese, it is written「這裡」. In simplified Chinese, it is「这里」.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這裡很美。 ♬ | zhèlǐ hěn měi | Here is beautiful. / This place is beautiful. |
| 這裡是我家。 ♬ | zhèlǐ shì wǒ jiā | This is my home. / Here is my home. |
| 我很喜歡這裡。 ♬ | wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhèlǐ | I really like this place. / I really like it here. |
For beginners, use「這裡」when you mean “here” or “this place.” Do not replace「這裡」with「這」in every sentence.
8. 這邊 zhèbiān: this side / around here
In Taiwan,「這邊」is also very common. It can mean “this side” or “around here.” Sometimes it is used similarly to「這裡」in conversation.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 請來這邊。 ♬ | qǐng lái zhèbiān | Please come here / to this side. |
| 這邊很安靜。 ♬ | zhèbiān hěn ānjìng | It is quiet around here. |
「這裡」focuses more on “this place.”「這邊」can feel like “this side / around here.”
9. 這 and 那
「這」means “this,” and「那」means “that.” Most patterns in this lesson can be changed from「這」to「那」.
| This | That | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這個 ♬ | 那個 ♬ | this one / that one |
| 這裡 ♬ | 那裡 ♬ | here / there |
| 這本書 ♬ | 那本書 ♬ | this book / that book |
10. Time expressions: this year, this morning, this month
Do not translate every English “this + time word” directly with「這」. Chinese has some fixed or common time expressions.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| this year | 今年 ♬ | jīnnián |
| this morning | 今早 ♬ | jīn zǎo |
| this month | 這個月 ♬ | zhège yuè |
| this week | 這個星期 ♬ | zhège xīngqí |
For beginners, memorize common time expressions as phrases instead of translating word by word.
11. Common mistake: 這 + noun and 這個 + noun
Be careful with pronunciation and writing. If you say「zhège」, the Chinese should usually include「個」.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 這娃娃 ♬ | zhè wáwa | this doll, shortened form |
| 這個娃娃 ♬ | zhège wáwa | this doll, full form |
For beginner lessons,「這個娃娃」is clearer and safer than「這娃娃」.
12. Common mistake: This is fun
English says “This is fun,” but Chinese usually does not translate this sentence word by word. A more natural beginner sentence is:
| Natural Chinese | Pinyin | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 這很有趣。 ♬ | zhè hěn yǒuqù | This is interesting. / This is fun. |
| 這很好玩。 ♬ | zhè hěn hǎowán | This is fun to play with. / This is fun. |
「有趣」means “interesting” or “funny.”「好玩」means “fun,” especially for games, activities, places, or things you can play with or enjoy.
Quick review
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 這 | this; this thing / situation | 這很好。 ♬ |
| 這個 | this one | 我要這個。 ♬ |
| 這 + measure word + noun | this noun | 這本書 ♬ |
| 這件事 | this matter / this thing | 這件事很重要。 ♬ |
| 這裡 | here; this place | 這裡很美。 ♬ |
| 這邊 | this side; around here | 請來這邊。 ♬ |
| 這 / 那 | this / that | 這個 / 那個 ♬ |
| Time expressions | memorize common phrases | 今年 / 這個月 ♬ |
Useful vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這 ♬ | zhè | this |
| 那 ♬ | nà | that |
| 這個 ♬ | zhège | this one |
| 那個 ♬ | nàge | that one |
| 這裡 ♬ | zhèlǐ | here; this place |
| 那裡 ♬ | nàlǐ | there; that place |
| 這邊 ♬ | zhèbiān | this side; around here |
| 那邊 ♬ | nàbiān | that side; over there |
| 娃娃 ♬ | wáwa | doll |
| 書 ♬ | shū | book |
| 事情 ♬ | shìqíng | thing; matter |
| 這件事 ♬ | zhè jiàn shì | this matter; this thing |
| 問題 ♬ | wèntí | problem; question |
| 有問題 ♬ | yǒu wèntí | to have a problem |
| 我的 ♬ | wǒ de | mine; my |
| 很棒 ♬ | hěn bàng | great; awesome |
| 有趣 ♬ | yǒuqù | interesting; funny |
| 好玩 ♬ | hǎowán | fun; fun to play with |
| 很美 ♬ | hěn měi | beautiful |
| 安靜 ♬ | ānjìng | quiet |
| 今年 ♬ | jīnnián | this year |
| 今早 ♬ | jīn zǎo | this morning |
| 這個月 ♬ | zhège yuè | this month |
| 這個星期 ♬ | zhège xīngqí | this week |
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