Definitions
(adjective)
this; these
(adjective)
Same meaning as zhè (this; these) but can be pronounced as zhèi in spoken language, especially before classifiers
About
The character "这", now the standard demonstrative pronoun for "this", originated from the traditional form "這", a structure combining the movement radical 辶 with the component 言 (speech). Its original meaning in classical texts was not as a pronoun but as a verb meaning "to meet" or "to greet", a sense derived from the idea of moving toward speech or encounter. Over centuries, this verb fell out of common use, and the character was borrowed phonetically to serve a new grammatical function. This shift repurposed it as a proximal demonstrative, gradually supplanting other classical terms like "此" in the vernacular. The modern simplified form, introduced later, retained the movement radical but replaced the complex 言 with the simpler 文, streamlining its structure while maintaining its now-established pronominal meaning.
Example Sentences Hide
这是你的书。
这个苹果很好吃。
这是你的书包吗？
今天的天气这么好。
这里是我的家。
这是我喜欢的电影。
这么难的问题我不会。
这次旅行让我学到了很多。