Drop 里 and 来这 sounds clipped; use 这里 or 这儿.
这里 means 'here' as a place word. 这 usually points to a thing and needs a noun nearby, like 这本书. In fast northern speech, 来这 can pop out, but it often sounds unfinished. If you want safe HSK 1 Chinese, say 来这里 or 来这儿.
| Situation / Pattern | Formula | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe place word | 来这里 / 来这儿 | 我来这里坐车。 | 我来这坐车。 |
| Casual northern | 来这儿 | 来这儿坐车。 | 来这坐车。 (often sounds unfinished) |
Both mean here, but 这儿 is northern casual and 这里 is neutral.
Both words mean 'here' and both pass HSK 1. 这儿 sounds more northern and casual, like everyday Beijing talk. 这里 sounds more neutral and is safer in writing or southern speech. The story sentence is neutral: “一个月后，高先明来这里坐车。” ── [《五块钱》](/read/five-yuan-kindness). Swapping to 来这儿坐车 makes it more casual, but it does not change the basic meaning. The same split applies to 那儿 and 那里.
| Situation / Pattern | Formula | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral / writing | 这里 | 来这里坐车。 | 来这儿坐车。 (too casual in essay) |
| Northern chat | 这儿 | 来这儿坐车。 | 来这里坐车。 (sounds a bit formal) |
| Same meaning | 这儿 = 这里 | 这儿/这里都行。 | Avoid random switching in one paragraph. |
Use 这本书 for standard Chinese; 这个书 is casual and can sound sloppy.
Chinese usually picks the matching counting word before a noun. For 书, that word is 本, so 这本书 is the clean default. You will hear 这个书 in casual speech, especially when pointing at one book. For more than one, use 这些书 or 那些书. In writing or tests, 这本书 is safer and sounds more educated.
| Situation / Pattern | Formula | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard single | 这/那 + 本 + 书 | 这本书很好看。 | 这个书很好看。 (casual/sloppy) |
| Plural | 这些/那些 + 书 | 这些书很好看。 | 这个书 for many books. |
| Casual pointing | 这个 + noun | 这个书我要了。 | 这个书 in an essay. |
Both mean some, but 有的 points to a known group; 有些 can feel vaguer.
有的 and 有些 both translate as 'some' in English. 有的 often points at a smaller set inside a group you already named. You often hear it in pairs: 有的学生喜欢数学，有的学生喜欢英语. 有些 can also mean 'some', but it sometimes sounds like 'there exist some' or a bit less specific. When you mean 'some of these', both are fine, but 有的 is tighter for paired contrasts. One more catch: before a feeling, 有些 can mean 'a bit'. You can say 有些累, but never 有的累.
| Situation / Pattern | Formula | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paired contrast | 有的 A, 有的 B | 有的学生爱数学，有的学生爱英语。 | 有的学生爱数学，有些学生爱英语。 (clashes) |
| 'A bit' before feeling | 有些 + adjective | 我今天有些累。 | 我有的累。 |
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
小朋友，我问问你，这个小朋友，他是谁？
Little one, let me ask you: who is this little boy?
这个小朋友是我哥。
This little boy is my older brother.
那个小孩子，他是谁？
And that little kid—who is he?
那个小孩子是我弟。
That little kid is my younger brother.
小朋友，我再问你，这个女孩子，她是谁？
Little one, let me ask you again: who is this little girl?
这个女孩子是我姐。
This little girl is my older sister.
那个女孩儿，她是谁？
And that little girl—who is she?
那个女孩儿是我妹。
That little girl is my younger sister.
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
那，北京人怎么说“here”和“there”？
Then, how do Beijing people say 'here' and 'there'?
小米：北京人喜欢说“这儿”和“那儿”。
Xiaomi: Beijing people like to say 'zhèr' and 'nàr'.
北京人也说“这里”和“那里”吗？
Do Beijing people also say 'zhèlǐ' and 'nàlǐ'?
上海人也说“这儿”和“那儿”。
Shanghai people also say 'zhèr' and 'nàr'.
我觉得老上海人喜欢说“这里”、“那里”和“哪里”，不喜欢说“……
I think older Shanghai people like to say 'zhèlǐ', 'nàlǐ', and 'nǎlǐ', but don't like to say '...
儿”、“哪儿”、“这儿”和“那儿”。
…r,' 'nǎr,' 'zhèr,' and 'nàr.'
他们也说“这儿”、“那儿”。
They also say 'zhèr' and 'nàr'.
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
他一个人坐在那儿，看外边。
He sits there alone, looking outside.
天天都是这个时候。
It is always this time every day.
老先生看看大中，对大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家饭店工作。
The old gentleman looks at Dazhong and says, 'Five years ago, my son also worked at this restaurant.'
我天天坐在这儿看外边，觉得我儿子还会回来。”
I sit here every day looking outside, feeling that my son will still come back.
大中听了，看那杯不热的茶，觉得老先生很好。
After hearing this, Dazhong looks at the no-longer-hot cup of tea and feels that the old gentleman is very kind.
This playful reading contrasts small universities and big primary schools. You will practice basic words for school levels and sizes while enjoying a simple rhythmic verse.
有的大学大，有的大学小。
Some universities are big, and some are small.
有的小学小，有的小学大。
Some elementary schools are small, and some are big.
有的中学大，有的中学小。
Some middle schools are big, and some are small.
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
这是一个苹果手机。
This is an Apple phone.
这是苹果十五。
This is an iPhone 15.
这个手机六千多块钱。
This phone costs over six thousand yuan.
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
一个月后，高先明来这里坐车。
A month later, Gao Xianming came here to take the bus.
高先明说：“老先生，谢谢您那天的五块钱。”
Gao Xianming said, 'Sir, thank you for the five yuan the other day.'
很多天后的一天早上，高先明来这里坐车。
Many days later, one morning, Gao Xianming came here to take the bus.
Shopping for fruit is a common daily task in China. Practice saying prices, counting items, and using simple shopping phrases while buying five apples for three yuan.
这个商店有很多水果。
This store has a lot of fruit.
这五个苹果都是中国苹果。
All five of these apples are Chinese apples.
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
今天白天的时候，我去我家这边的超市买东西。
Today, during the daytime, I went to the supermarket near my home to buy some groceries.
我问超市的人那两个苹果是哪里的？
I asked the staff at the supermarket where those two apples were from.
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
这个商店有很多东西，有吃的东西也有喝的东西。
This store has a lot of things—there are things to eat and things to drink.
我：“上个星期天，你说你喜欢他们的那个桌子和那个电脑椅。
Me: 'Last Sunday, you said you liked their table and that computer chair.'
Join a shopper on a quick trip to the store. You'll learn simple words for shopping and feelings in this easy-to-follow story.
这个商店有很多东西。
This store has a lot of things.
这个商店没有我想买的电视。
This store doesn't have the TV I want to buy.
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
我问超市的人那三个苹果是哪里的？
I asked the supermarket staff where those three apples were from.
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
我们有些人穿的衣服很少。
Some of us were dressed very lightly.
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
Ｂ：因为我不喜欢运动，所以这两个我都不喜欢。
B: Since I'm not into sports, I don't like either of them.
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
这是我第一次在中国吃中国菜，很好吃，我很喜欢。
This was my first time eating Chinese food in China—it was delicious, and I really liked it.
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
今天雨太大，我想你还没吃晚饭，我在这儿看你来不来。”
It's raining too hard today. I thought you might not have eaten dinner yet, so I'm here to see if you would come.
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
这是电影院！
This is a cinema!
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
白天明对老先生说：“老先生，我天天都来这里和您说话。
Bai Tianming said to the old man, 'Sir, I'll come here every day to talk with you.'
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
这个下午，天气很好。
This afternoon, the weather is lovely.
Everyday greetings are a gateway to natural Chinese. Practice time-based hellos like “早上好” and “晚安,” learn to address teachers with the respectful “您,” and see how families skip formalities to speak warmly at home.
这边请，请进请坐请喝茶；
This way, please. Please come in, please sit down, and please have some tea.
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
那个女孩儿是小商，是小习，习有朋的女朋友。
That girl is Xiao Shang; she is Xiao Xi, Xi Youpeng's girlfriend.
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