此
Character Story & Explanation
此 has been used continuously since the Warring States period (475–221 BCE) in bamboo-slip texts and early philosophical works like the *Mencius* and *Zhuangzi*. Today, it appears frequently in formal registers: government announcements (e.g., '此举旨在...' — 'This measure aims to...'), academic papers, and idioms like 此起彼伏 (cǐ qǐ bǐ fú, 'rising and falling in turns'). It's also standard in computing interfaces for warnings and confirmations due to its concise, unambiguous tone.
The character evolved from seal script where 止 (stop/here) was combined with 匕 (bǐ, an ancient variant of 'spoon', later stylized). Scholars agree the original sense conveyed 'here, at this point' — not a pictograph of an object, but a conceptual marker of proximity and immediacy in discourse.
Hi students! Let’s learn 此 (cǐ), a fundamental demonstrative character meaning 'this' or 'these'. It’s not used alone in speech like English 'this' — instead, it appears in formal writing, academic texts, and set phrases. You’ll see it often in essays, official documents, and classical-style expressions. Though it’s HSK Level 4, its usage is more literary than conversational — think of it as the ‘written’ cousin of 这 (zhè), which you use daily in spoken Chinese.
Notice its radical 止 (zhǐ), meaning 'to stop' — historically linked to the idea of pointing to something *here*, right at this place or moment. The six strokes flow from top to bottom: dot, horizontal, vertical, horizontal-fold, dot, and final捺 (nà, sweeping stroke). Practice slowly, paying attention to the balance between the upper '止' and lower '匕' components.
This character helps build precision in expression. For example, 此事 (cǐ shì) means 'this matter', adding gravity and formality. Unlike casual 这, 此 signals seriousness — you’ll find it in news headlines, legal notices, and even smartphone notifications like '此操作不可撤销' ('This action cannot be undone'). Mastering 此 expands your ability to read real-world Chinese beyond textbooks.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
Your First Step into Chinese Culture: Get a Chinese Name
Every journey into Chinese begins with a name. Use our free Chinese name generator to create a meaningful, personalized Chinese name that fits you perfectly.
Get My Chinese Name →