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HSK 1 Demonstrative Pronouns: Pointing to People, Objects, Places, and Subsets
Demonstrative pronouns in Mandarin allow you to point out specific people, objects, locations, and indefinite subsets within a group. Mastering them at the beginner level requires knowing when to use a measure word, how to distinguish objects from locations, and how to refer to partial quantities.
这是我的书，那是他的电脑。
这 and 那 stand alone as subjects directly before 是.
Read the full explanation and examples
Core Pointing: 这, 那, 这个, and 那个
In the HSK 1 grammar outline, demonstrative pronouns (指示代词) are built around two fundamental roots: 这 (this, close to the speaker) and 那 (that, further away from the speaker). When you are introducing or identifying something directly as the subject of a sentence before 是, 这 and 那 can stand alone.
这是我的书，那是他的电脑。
这 and 那 stand alone as subjects directly before 是.
For a dependable beginner pattern with an ordinary singular noun, include a classifier: 这本书, 那个人. Spoken forms such as 这书 also occur, so do not treat the classifier as compulsory in every context. 这个 and 那个 include 个 and can stand alone when the referent is clear.
这个人是新老师，那个人是学生。
这个 and 那个 include the measure word 个 to modify the singular noun 人.
Pointing to Places: 这儿, 这里, 那儿, and 那里
Use 这儿 or 这里 for “here”, and 那儿 or 那里 for “there”, as clear beginner location forms. In informal speech, you may also hear a shortened 这 or 那 in a location phrase, as in 我在这; the longer forms make the intended location meaning explicit.
- 这儿 and 那儿 use the retroflex suffix 儿 and are especially common in northern spoken Mandarin.
- 这里 and 那里 use 里 and are common across all regions, as well as in slightly more formal or written contexts.
- Both pairs mean the exact same thing grammatically and can serve as the subject of a location sentence (such as before 有 or 在) or as the destination after a verb like 去.
这儿有很多茶，那里有水。
这儿 and 那里 act as location subjects before 有.
Plurals and Subsets: 这些, 那些, 有的, and 有些
For an ordinary plural model, use 这些 (these) or 那些 (those) directly before the noun. 些 does not specify an exact number. The colloquial forms 这些个 and 那些个 also exist, but the shorter forms are useful defaults for beginner practice.
这些苹果很甜，那些不太好吃。
这些 modifies the plural noun 苹果 directly, while 那些 stands alone because the noun is understood.
These outline entries also include 有的 and 有些, both meaning “some” in the patterns here. 这些 and 那些 identify a group from the situation or prior discourse; it need not be physically visible. 有的 and 有些 refer to part of a wider group or category.
- Both 有的 and 有些 can be placed directly before a noun (有的学生, 有些学生) to mean some students.
- Both can also be used without repeating the noun once the topic is already established in the conversation.
- 有的 is especially natural when contrasting two subsets within one sentence (for example, some are expensive, some are cheap).
有些菜很贵，有的很便宜。
有些 modifies 菜 to introduce a subset, and 有的 follows without repeating the noun.
Beginner Models and Spoken Variants
Use an explicit classifier such as 本 with 这 or 那 as a clear starting pattern. Compare the informal 这书 with the more explicit 这本书 below; both can occur in Chinese.
我喜欢这书。
Valid in informal speech: the classifier can be omitted in a phrase such as 这书. For a clear beginner model, practise 我喜欢这本书. The difference is register and context, not an absolute grammatical error.
我喜欢这本书。
The explicit classifier pattern: 本 links 这 to 书. This is a clear form to use in beginner practice.
For a neutral plural expression, 这些学生 is a useful default. You may also encounter the colloquial 这些个学生. The presence of 个 after 些 in this attested form is not by itself evidence of a grammatical error.
这些个学生很认真。
A valid colloquial form. 这些个 is attested; it is not automatically a double-classifier mistake. For an unmarked beginner or written form, use 这些学生很认真.
这些学生很认真。
An unmarked plural model: 这些 directly modifies 学生 without an additional 个.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any grammar difference between 这儿 / 那儿 and 这里 / 那里?
No. They fill the exact same grammatical roles. 这儿 and 那儿 are more typical of northern conversational speech, while 这里 and 那里 are widely used across all regions and in writing.
Can I use 这个 or 那个 for plural nouns?
No. 个 refers to a single item or person. When pointing to multiple items, switch to 这些 (these) or 那些 (those).
How do I choose between 这些 and 有些?
Use 这些 (these) when pointing to a specific group of items right in front of you or just mentioned. Use 有些 (some) when talking about part of a larger group without pointing to every specific member.
