# HSK 7-9 Demonstrative Pronouns: 彼, 这么着, 兹 Grammar Guide | HSKReady Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-pronouns-3ac1e21ef3 Language: en Content ID: web-grammar-hsk-7-9-pronouns-3ac1e21ef3 HSK levels: 7-9 Updated: 2026-10-23T04:57:55.175Z Scope: published website educational content; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app. Learn the exact register, syntax, and contrasts for the advanced Chinese demonstrative pronouns 彼, 这么着, and 兹 from the HSK 7-9 outline. Grammar [HSK 7-9 · Word classes › Pronouns › Demonstrative pronouns](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9#hsk-7-9-g005) # Advanced Demonstrative Pronouns: 彼, 这么着, and 兹 Compare three demonstratives with different common uses: literary 彼 for that or the other, conversational 这么着 for like this, and formal 兹 in announcements and established expressions. Learn useful frames and choose wording that fits the context. 彼 monosyllabic time or place noun ， 此 monosyllabic time or place noun Example sentence 彼时互联网尚未普及，人们主要依靠书信联系。 Bǐshí hùliánwǎng shàngwèi pǔjí, rénmen zhǔyào yīkào shūxìn liánxì. At that time, the internet was not yet widespread, and people mainly relied on letters to stay in touch. 彼时 refers to the time established by the narrative. It gives the sentence a literary tone without specifying how remote that time must be. A common mistake × 请把彼把椅子搬到会议室去。 Qǐng bǎ bǐ bǎ yǐzi bān dào huìyìshì qù. [Incorrect] Please move that chair to the meeting room. For the ordinary request intended here, 彼把椅子 is not a natural modern noun phrase. 那把椅子 is the appropriate everyday form. Corrected example: 请把那把椅子搬到会议室去。 **Read the full explanation and examples** ## Register and Scope in Advanced Chinese The supplied HSK 7-9 outline groups 彼, 这么着, and 兹 as demonstrative pronouns. Their common contexts differ, but they can appear in the same text or speech when the voice and purpose change. Learn what each expression points to and how the whole phrase is normally used. For ordinary requests, 这 and 那 are usually the straightforward choices. 彼 is literary, 这么着 is conversational, and 兹 occurs in formal wording as well as established literary expressions. These are useful starting points, not an exhaustive list of every possible use. ## 彼: Literary Distal Reference and Contrast 彼 (bǐ) means that or the other in literary usage. Common expressions include 彼时, 彼处, and 彼岸. It often contrasts with 此, but the other side is not necessarily a hostile opponent. In 彼时, that time is identified by the narrative; it need not be a remote historical period. 彼 monosyllabic time or place noun ， 此 monosyllabic time or place noun 彼时互联网尚未普及，人们主要依靠书信联系。 Bǐshí hùliánwǎng shàngwèi pǔjí, rénmen zhǔyào yīkào shūxìn liánxì. At that time, the internet was not yet widespread, and people mainly relied on letters to stay in touch. 彼时 refers to the time established by the narrative. It gives the sentence a literary tone without specifying how remote that time must be. 此一时，彼一时，我们不能照搬过去的经验。 Cǐ yī shí, bǐ yī shí, wǒmen bù néng zhàobān guòqù de jīngyàn. That was then, and this is now; we cannot mechanically copy past experience. Illustrates the classic symmetrical contrast between 此 and 彼. Short expressions such as 彼时 and 彼处 are common literary patterns. The fixed contrast 此一时，彼一时 has its own structure. For an everyday request about a chair, 那把椅子 is natural; replacing 那 mechanically with 彼 does not make that modern phrase a better formal expression. ## 这么着: Colloquial Proposals and Settlements 这么着 (zhèmezhe) means like this or in this way. It is conversational, often with a northern Mandarin flavour. It can occur in dialogue or a narrative with that voice. 这样 is a more neutral option across many contexts; 这么着 is not restricted to negotiations. 这么着 （吧）， proposed action clause Two useful dialogue patterns are shown below. 这么着吧 can introduce a suggested next step, while 先这么着了 can leave the arrangement in place for now. The suggestion need not be a compromise, and the arrangement need not be final. 这么着 can also describe a manner of acting, as in 他一直这么着做. 这么着吧，你先拟一份初稿，我们明天再讨论。 Zhèmezhe ba, nǐ xiān nǐ yī fèn chūgǎo, wǒmen míngtiān zài tǎolùn. How about this: you draft a preliminary version first, and we will discuss it tomorrow. Demonstrates 这么着吧 used at the beginning of a spoken turn to propose an actionable plan. 既然大家没意见，这事儿就先这么着了。 Jìrán dàjiā méi yìjiàn, zhè shìr jiù xiān zhèmezhe le. Since nobody has any objections, let us leave this matter like this for now. Shows 这么着 functioning as a spoken predicate to conclude an agreement. ## 兹: Official and Legal Declarations 兹 (zī) can mean this or now in formal and literary language. In notices and certificates, it often corresponds to hereby, as in 兹证明. This is an important contemporary use, but not the only one: 兹事体大 and 念兹在兹 are established expressions outside a certificate-opening frame. 兹 performative official verb certified fact or scheduled event In administrative examples, 兹 often precedes wording such as 证明, 定于, 任命, or 公布. It need not be the first character of the entire sentence: 本公司兹定于… is also a possible frame. Its formal tone comes from convention and context; using the character does not by itself make a statement authoritative. 兹证明张华同志曾在我院担任客座研究员。 Zī zhèngmíng Zhāng Huá tóngzhì céng zài wǒyuàn dānrèn kèzuò yánjiūyuán. This is to certify that Comrade Zhang Hua formerly served as a visiting researcher at our institute. Standard administrative opening where 兹 precedes the performative verb 证明. 兹定于下周五下午两点召开年度股东大会。 Zī dìngyú xià zhōuwǔ xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn zhàokāi niándù gǔdōng dàhuì. It is hereby scheduled that the annual shareholders meeting will be held next Friday at 2:00 p.m. Shows 兹定于 used in a formal institutional notice. ## Crucial Contrasts and Learner Pitfalls Do not assume a more literary demonstrative is a better substitute in an ordinary request. The chair example below needs the familiar modern phrase 那把椅子. 彼把椅子 is not a normal expression for that intended request. Diagnose that collocation in context rather than inventing a rule covering every literary use of 彼. - 彼 and 那: use 那把椅子 in an everyday request. Learn literary combinations such as 彼时 and 此一时，彼一时 as whole expressions. - 这么着 and 这样: 这样 is a useful neutral default; 这么着 gives a conversational voice, including in dialogue quoted within formal writing. - 兹 and 此: learn the established frame. 兹证明 is common in certification, while 兹事体大 and 此事体大 are both established literary expressions. Do not replace every 这, 此, or 现在 mechanically. × 请把彼把椅子搬到会议室去。 Qǐng bǎ bǐ bǎ yǐzi bān dào huìyìshì qù. [Incorrect] Please move that chair to the meeting room. For the ordinary request intended here, 彼把椅子 is not a natural modern noun phrase. 那把椅子 is the appropriate everyday form. Corrected example: 请把那把椅子搬到会议室去。 请把那把椅子搬到会议室去。 Qǐng bǎ nà bǎ yǐzi bān dào huìyìshì qù. Please move that chair to the meeting room. Correct replacement for “请把彼把椅子搬到会议室去。”: 那 naturally combines with the measure word 把 and an everyday noun. Choose the whole expression for the situation: 那把椅子 for an ordinary request, 彼时 for a literary time reference, 这么着吧 for a conversational suggestion, and 兹证明 for a formal certificate. Familiar frames are more useful than treating every listed tendency as an absolute rule. ## Frequently asked questions **Does studying 彼, 这么着, and 兹 for HSK 7-9 mean every test center uses the updated outline right now?** No. The grouping of 彼, 这么着, and 兹 comes from the HSK 3.0 syllabus outline (Levels 7-9), which defines the instructional scope for advanced learners rather than guaranteeing which specific test version a local test center administers on a given date. **Can I use 这么着 in a formal HSK argumentative essay?** It is best avoided in formal essays unless you are quoting direct dialogue. In academic or argumentative prose, use 这样 or 如此 instead. **Do native speakers ever use 兹 in spoken announcements?** Yes, 兹 may be heard in a formal announcement or ceremonial statement, especially with familiar wording such as 兹宣布. It sounds markedly formal, so everyday speech usually uses 现在 or a simpler expression. It is not limited to reading a document word for word. **Source**[hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com · PDF page 403](https://hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com/3.0/%E6%96%B0%E7%89%88HSK%E8%80%83%E8%AF%95%E5%A4%A7%E7%BA%B21219.pdf#page=403) ## Continue in the app Full mock exams are available in HSKReady. [![Download on the App Store](https://hskready.app/download-on-app-store-black.svg)Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6791916440?l=en)[![Get it on Google Play](https://hskready.app/get-it-on-google-play.svg)Get it on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.curiolab.hskready&hl=en) [HSKReady App](https://hskready.app/en/app)