Formal Demonstrative Pronouns: 本 and 此
本 (this, our) and 此 (this) are formal written demonstratives that replace spoken 这. 本 goes before words for the speaker's own side, as in 本校 and 本次, and 此 appears in fixed phrases such as 因此 and 此外.
In English
In formal Chinese, 这 is often replaced by 本 or 此. 本 points to the speaker's own side and attaches to institutions and events: 本校 (our school), 本人 (I, formally), 本次 (this time). 此 rarely stands before a plain noun and instead sits in fixed phrases that point back to what was just said: 此外 (besides), 此时 (at this moment), 如此 (like this), 由此 (from this), 据此 (on this basis).
A formal notice that says 这次会议 instead of 本次会议 sounds too casual.
口语中说'这'，正式书面语常用本和此代替，语气更庄重。
本 + 机构/场合类名词，多用于'说话者所属的一方'：本人（我，正式自称）、本校、本次、本店、本着（依据/秉持——本着…的原则）。
此 很少单独修饰普通名词，主要出现在固定连接词/短语里，回指前文：此外（除此之外）、由此（从这里/因此）、如此（像这样）、此时（这时候）、据此（根据这一点）、从此（从这以后）。
常见错误：正式文件里用'这次会议'代替'本次会议'——语气不够正式；把'此外'错用成'这外'——'此'不能替换为'这'放进固定短语。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 本校学生每年都要参加一次全校体检。 | Běn xiào xué sheng měi nián dōu yào cān jiā yī cì quán xiào tǐ jiǎn. | Students of this school must take a school-wide health check every year. | 本 + institutional noun (本校) — the minimal frame, formal self-reference. |
| 调查显示，超过一半的员工对新制度不满，由此可见改革还需要调整。 | Diào chá xiǎn shì, chāo guò yī bàn de yuán gōng duì xīn zhì dù bù mǎn, yóu cǐ kě jiàn gǎi gé hái xū yào tiáo zhěng. | The survey shows over half of employees are dissatisfied with the new system; from this it can be seen the reform still needs adjustment. | 由此可见 — 此 anaphorically points back to the survey result just mentioned. |
| 本次会议将讨论新政策，与会者需在此之前提交书面意见，否则将视为无异议，此外，会议纪要将于会后一周内发出。 | Běn cì huì yì jiāng tǎo lùn xīn zhèng cè, yǔ huì zhě xū zài cǐ zhī qián tí jiāo shū miàn yì jiàn, fǒu zé jiāng shì wéi wú yì yì, cǐ wài, huì yì jì yào jiāng yú huì hòu yī zhōu nèi fā chū. | This meeting will discuss the new policy; attendees must submit written opinions before this point, otherwise it will be considered as no objection; besides this, meeting minutes will be sent within a week after the meeting. | 本次, 在此之前, and 此外 combined in one formal-register notice, showing all three 本/此 patterns together. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
本 (běn)
A formal 'this' that refers to the speaker's own side: person, organisation, event.
Structure: 本 + 人/校/公司/次 + noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 本公司诚聘销售人员，欢迎应聘。 | Běn gōng sī chéng pìn xiāo shòu rén yuán, huān yíng yìng pìn. | This company is recruiting sales staff, applicants are welcome. |
| 本人对这件事没有意见。 | Běn rén duì zhè jiàn shì méi yǒu yì jiàn. | I have no objection to this matter. |
| 本次航班因天气原因延误。 | Běn cì háng bān yīn tiān qì yuán yīn yán wù. | This flight is delayed because of the weather. |
Not: 请把本书给我。 本 does not stand in for 这 with ordinary objects; say 这本书.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, pronouns (指示代词).
本 is also explained in: Number-Measure Phrases (HSK 1).
此 (cǐ)
A formal 'this' that mostly appears in fixed phrases and points back to what was just said.
Structure: 此 in 此时/如此/据此
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 此时此刻，我心里充满了感激。 | Cǐ shí cǐ kè, wǒ xīn lǐ chōng mǎn le gǎn jī. | At this very moment I am full of gratitude. |
| 事情竟然如此简单。 | Shì qing jìng rán rú cǐ jiǎn dān. | The matter turned out to be this simple. |
| 据此推断，这场比赛很可能会推迟。 | Jù cǐ tuī duàn, zhè chǎng bǐ sài hěn kě néng huì tuī chí. | Judging from this, the match will probably be postponed. |
Not: 我喜欢此个。 此 does not take a measure word in this way; say 这个.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, pronouns (指示代词).
此 is also explained in: Discourse Cohesion: Anaphora & Ellipsis (HSK 5).
此外 (cǐ wài)
Adds one more point: 'besides this', 'in addition'.
Structure: Clause 1, 此外 + extra point
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我会说英语，此外还会说一点日语。 | Wǒ huì shuō Yīng yǔ, cǐ wài hái huì shuō yì diǎn Rì yǔ. | I speak English, and besides that a little Japanese. |
| 这家店卖水果，此外也卖蔬菜。 | Zhè jiā diàn mài shuǐ guǒ, cǐ wài yě mài shū cài. | This shop sells fruit and also vegetables. |
| 他每天上班，此外周末还做兼职。 | Tā měi tiān shàng bān, cǐ wài zhōu mò hái zuò jiān zhí. | He works every day, and on weekends he also has a part-time job. |
Not: 这外，我还有一个问题。 The fixed phrase is 此外; 这 cannot replace 此 in it.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, conjunctions (连接分句或句子).
由此 (yóu cǐ)
Draws a result or conclusion from what was just said: 'from this'.
Structure: Fact, 由此 + 可见/可知/带来
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 由此可知，坚持比天赋更重要。 | Yóu cǐ kě zhī, jiān chí bǐ tiān fù gèng zhòng yào. | From this we can see that persistence matters more than talent. |
| 产量大幅增加，由此带来了新的问题。 | Chǎn liàng dà fú zēng jiā, yóu cǐ dài lái le xīn de wèn tí. | Output rose sharply and this brought new problems. |
| 他迟到了三次，由此可见他不太重视这份工作。 | Tā chí dào le sān cì, yóu cǐ kě jiàn tā bú tài zhòng shì zhè fèn gōng zuò. | He was late three times, which shows he does not take this job seriously. |
Not: 由这可见，他不太重视。 In a fixed phrase 此 stays: 由此可见.
Questions about Formal Demonstrative Pronouns
What does 书面指示代词 (Formal Demonstrative Pronouns) mean in Chinese?
本 (this, our) and 此 (this) are formal written demonstratives that replace spoken 这. 本 goes before words for the speaker's own side, as in 本校 and 本次, and 此 appears in fixed phrases such as 因此 and 此外. It is an HSK 6 grammar point.
How do you use 书面指示代词 (Formal Demonstrative Pronouns) in a sentence?
本校学生每年都要参加一次全校体检。 — Běn xiào xué sheng měi nián dōu yào cān jiā yī cì quán xiào tǐ jiǎn. — Students of this school must take a school-wide health check every year. 本 + institutional noun (本校) — the minimal frame, formal self-reference.
Where does 书面指示代词 (Formal Demonstrative Pronouns) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 6, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
When do I use 本 instead of 这?
Use 本 in formal writing when the thing belongs to the speaker's own side: 本校, 本公司, 本次会议. Use 这 for anything else, and in speech.
Can 此 stand alone before a noun?
Rarely. 此 mostly lives in set phrases such as 此外, 此时, 如此, 据此 and 由此. In a formal text you may meet 此人 or 此事, but in speech say 这个人 or 这件事.
Formal Demonstrative Pronouns is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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