这 / 那 Demonstratives in Chinese
这 / 那
这 points to something near the speaker, while 那 points to something farther away or already identified. Before a noun, each comes before any number and measure word: 这三本书, 那个人. Used alone, 这 or 那 can serve as the subject, as in 这是我的书.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
这/那 + (Number) + Measure Word + Noun
Read the structure
这 points to something near the speaker, while 那 points to something farther away or already identified. Before a noun, each comes before any number and measure word: 这三本书, 那个人. Used alone, 这 or 那 can serve as the subject, as in 这是我的书. Keep the model 这/那 + (Number) + Measure Word + Noun visible while you compare each sentence.
这是我的手机。
This is my phone.
Choose the right context
Use 这 or 那 alone to point to a whole item: 这是我的手机。 Use 这/那 before a measure word and noun: 那个老师。 Put a number between the demonstrative and measure word: 这三本书。
我喜欢那个书包。
I like that schoolbag.
Respect the boundary
Do not place the number before 这 or 那 in a noun phrase. Do not place the measure word before the demonstrative. Do not translate English plural marking onto 这 or 那; the noun phrase supplies number.
我买三这本书。
(I am buying these three books.)
Repair the pattern
Number placed before the demonstrative: The demonstrative begins the noun phrase. The required order is 这 + 三 + 本 + 书, not number + demonstrative. Measure word placed before the demonstrative: 那 must precede the classifier 个. Moving 个 before 那 breaks the demonstrative noun-phrase order.
我买这三本书。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这是我的手机。
This is my phone.
这
这/那
This part occupies the 这/那 position in the model pattern.
是
(Number)
This part occupies the (Number) position in the model pattern.
我的
Measure Word
This part occupies the Measure Word position in the model pattern.
手机
Noun
This part occupies the Noun position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这是我的手机。
This is my phone.
我喜欢那个书包。
I like that schoolbag.
这三本书都很新。
These three books are all new.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 这 or 那 alone to point to a whole item: 这是我的手机。
- Use 这/那 before a measure word and noun: 那个老师。
- Put a number between the demonstrative and measure word: 这三本书。
Do not use it when
- Do not place the number before 这 or 那 in a noun phrase.
- Do not place the measure word before the demonstrative.
- Do not translate English plural marking onto 这 or 那; the noun phrase supplies number.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我买三这本书。
我买这三本书。
Number placed before the demonstrative
The demonstrative begins the noun phrase. The required order is 这 + 三 + 本 + 书, not number + demonstrative.
我喜欢个那个书包。
我喜欢那个书包。
Measure word placed before the demonstrative
那 must precede the classifier 个. Moving 个 before 那 breaks the demonstrative noun-phrase order.
我买三这本书。
The demonstrative begins the noun phrase. The required order is 这 + 三 + 本 + 书, not number + demonstrative.
我喜欢个那个书包。
那 must precede the classifier 个. Moving 个 before 那 breaks the demonstrative noun-phrase order.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 这 / 那.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 这 / 那. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
这 / 那 Demonstratives Questions
Do 这 and 那 have plural forms?
No. Use a number, 些, or context: 这本书 is this book, 这三本书 is these three books, and 这些书 is these books.
Can 这 or 那 appear without a noun?
Yes. They can point to an entire item and serve as the subject: 这是我的 and 那是什么 both use the demonstrative independently.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, A.1.1.3 代词, 【一06】指示代词
Supports placement in HSK 1; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: §7.1–§7.3 (specifiers and demonstratives)
As specifiers, 这 and 那 precede an optional number, a classifier, and a noun; used independently, they can refer to an entire noun phrase.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
本本: This in Formal Reference
Compare this lesson with formal 本 identifying the present document or institution; both belong to noun reference and modifier structure, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
多项定语Ordering Multiple Noun Modifiers
Compare this lesson with several modifiers ordered before one head noun; both belong to noun reference and modifier structure, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
之之: Formal Nominal Link
Compare this lesson with formal 之 linking an attributive phrase to its head; both belong to noun reference and modifier structure, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
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个Chinese Measure Words
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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