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HSK 4 Demonstrative Pronouns: 各, 各位, 各种, 任何, and 此
Beyond basic pointing words for 'this' and 'that', intermediate Chinese uses specialized demonstrative pronouns to single out individuals within a group, address audiences politely, describe variety, express 'any' without exception, or refer to things in formal writing.
各个城市的气候不一样。
各个 (gè gè) emphasizes that when you compare the cities individually, they differ from one another.
× 书店里有各种个书。
Incorrect in the intended simple noun phrase: use 各种书 without inserting 个. To count books individually, use a separate quantity phrase such as 一本书.
Corrected example: 书店里有各种书。
Read the full explanation and examples
Scope and Core Functions
In the Level 4 grammar outline, the category of demonstrative pronouns (指示代词, zhǐshì dàicí) expands beyond simple spatial pointing words to include five high-frequency items: 各 (gè), 各位 (gèwèi), 各种 (gèzhǒng), 任何 (rènhé), and 此 (cǐ). Note that this level designation reflects the supplied reference outline rather than a guarantee of which test version a specific examination center administers.
Although grouped together as demonstrative pronouns in Chinese grammar, these five words serve distinct communicative purposes. 各, 各位, and 各种 divide a group into individual members, respected people, or diverse types. 任何 emphasizes zero exceptions across a category, while 此 provides a compact, formal way to say 'this' in written notices and set expressions.
Distributing Groups: 各, 各位, and 各种
各 distributes attention across the members of a group. It combines with classifiers, as in 各个城市, or directly with suitable nouns, as in 各国、各省 and 各部门. The direct pattern is not restricted to two-syllable nouns or to a single semantic category; learn the usual combinations.
各个城市的气候不一样。
各个 (gè gè) emphasizes that when you compare the cities individually, they differ from one another.
各部门都要参加今天的会议。
各 attaches directly to the two-syllable institutional noun 部门 (bùmén) without a measure word.
各位 (gèwèi) combines 各 with the polite measure word for people, 位 (wèi). It translates as 'everyone' or 'ladies and gentlemen' and is used to address a group of listeners or readers respectfully. It can stand alone as a pronoun or precede a professional title or role, such as 老师 (lǎoshī, teacher) or 观众 (guānzhòng, audience member).
各位老师，早上好！
各位 + title is a polite way to address an audience or group directly.
请各位先坐下。
Here 各位 stands alone as a polite plural pronoun for the people being addressed.
各种 (gèzhǒng) combines 各 with 种 (zhǒng, kind or type) to mean 'all kinds of' or 'various'. Because 种 is already a classifier for types, 各种 modifies nouns directly (often without 的) to highlight diversity within a category.
超市里有各种水果。
各种 directly precedes the noun 水果 (shuǐguǒ) to express variety.
Total Inclusion and Exclusion: 任何
任何 means “any” without restricting the choice to one particular member. In 任何人都可以参加, every person is eligible; in 没告诉我任何事情, negation excludes all things being told. It can precede a noun directly or a classifier phrase such as 任何一个人、任何一本书. A classifier phrase is not merely an exceptional emphatic form.
- As subject or topic: 都 commonly makes the universal reading explicit, as in 任何人都可以参加. 也 often appears with a negative predicate, as in 任何人也不能例外. These are useful patterns, not compulsory partners in every construction: 任何违规行为必将受到处罚 is also complete.
- After a negated verb (as object): 任何 + noun translates to 'not ... any' or 'no ... whatsoever'.
- In conditional clauses (such as those starting with 如果, rúguǒ, 'if'): It means 'any at all'.
如果你有任何问题，都可以问我。
任何 is used in a conditional clause paired with 都 in the main clause.
他没告诉我任何事情。
After the negation 没 (méi), 任何事情 means 'nothing whatsoever'.
Formal Reference: 此
此 (cǐ) is a literary demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'these'. In modern Mandarin, it rarely stands alone in casual conversation; instead, it appears in written Chinese, official notices, news reports, and fixed compound expressions where everyday speech would use 这 (zhè).
Common short combinations include 此事、此人、此次 and 此地. 此 can also precede longer nouns or phrases, as in 此问题、此项目 and 此次活动; its use is not limited by a one-syllable rule. Everyday 这 often takes a classifier, as in 这本书, but familiar forms such as 这事 also omit one. Choose a natural combination and register rather than swapping 此 and 这 mechanically.
此事已经解决了。
此事 is a concise, formal alternative to 这件事 (zhè jiàn shì).
我们对此次活动非常满意。
此次 (this time/occasion) modifies 活动 in formal or written style.
Key Contrasts and Common Learner Errors
各 and 每 overlap in referring to every member. 各 often highlights the members separately, while 每 is a general distributive choice; neither word determines that members are different or alike. 各个城市的气候不一样 and 每个城市的气候不一样 can both describe different climates. Both words also occur without classifiers in familiar combinations: 各国、各部门、每人、每天.
× 书店里有各种个书。
Incorrect in the intended simple noun phrase: use 各种书 without inserting 个. To count books individually, use a separate quantity phrase such as 一本书.
Corrected example: 书店里有各种书。
书店里有各种书。
各种 directly modifies 书 to express different kinds. It is not a count of individual copies.
Frequently asked questions
How is 各位 (gèwèi) different from 大家 (dàjiā)?
Both can translate to 'everyone', but 各位 is a polite form of direct address used when speaking or writing to an audience ('Ladies and gentlemen', 'Everyone here'). 大家 is more general, works in both casual and formal settings, and can refer to people who are not being directly addressed.
Can I use 此 (cǐ) instead of 这 (zhè) in everyday conversation?
Generally no. Saying 此书 (cǐ shū) for 'this book' at a café sounds overly stiff and archaic. In spoken Chinese, stick to 这本书 (zhè běn shū), and reserve 此 for formal writing, announcements, or common compound connectors like 因此 (yīncǐ, therefore).
When can 任何 appear in an affirmative sentence?
It works with a universal or unrestricted-choice reading: 任何人都可以参加 (“Anyone may take part”) and 你可以选任何一本书 (“You may choose any book”). It does not normally introduce an ordinary specific purchase, so use 我昨天买了一本书 for “I bought a book yesterday.” Past reference is not the problem: 过去任何人都能报名 is also valid. 都 is useful in many subject patterns but is not required after every 任何 phrase.
