pron.
here
这里
here
Here or this place (这 this + 里 inside/place); conversational pointer to the immediate vicinity. Say 在这里 (right here).
Common Usage & Traps
- 来这里 — come here
- 在这里 — be here / be at this place
- 这里的人 — the people here
-
去这里来这里 (or 去那里)去 pushes movement away from your spot. 这里 already points at your spot, so the two fight each other. If the place is where you're standing, use 来.
-
我工作在这里我在这里工作Place words like 这里 sit before the verb. English puts 'here' at the end, so learners copy that and the sentence sounds scrambled to native ears.
Is 这里 and 这儿 the same thing, and does it matter which one I pick?
Same meaning, different vibe: 这儿 is casual northern speech, 这里 is neutral and standard.
Both words mean here, and nobody will mishear you either way. 这儿 dominates everyday chatting in Beijing and the north. 这里 sounds slightly tidier, so it shows up more in writing, news, and southern speech. If you learned 这里 first, keep it — it's never wrong.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Chatting with a friend | 来这儿坐 | Forcing 这里 into casual speech |
| Writing or formal tone | 来这里坐车 | 来这儿坐车 in a formal report |
| Southern speakers | 这里 | Assuming 这儿 is universal |
Why do I keep hearing 来这里 but never 去这里?
Match the verb to your spot: 来这里 when the place is where you are, 去那里 when it isn't.
来 pulls movement toward the speaker, and 去 pushes it away. 这里 already means my exact location, so 去 here contradicts itself. English says go here and come here loosely, but Chinese splits them hard. Pick 来 when someone is heading to your spot, and 去 when they head somewhere else.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Place is where you stand | 来这里 | 去这里 |
| Place is somewhere else | 去那里 | 来这里 |
| Shouting to a taxi | 去那里，谢谢 | 来这里，谢谢 |
Where does 这里 go in a sentence — before or after the verb?
这里 goes before the verb, not after it: 我在这里工作, never 我工作在这里.
Chinese treats location like a stage that gets set before the action happens. So the place slot sits right before the verb, usually with 在 in front of it. English drags the place to the end, which is exactly the habit you need to drop. The order is subject, then place, then verb.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Stating where you work | 我在这里工作 | 我工作在这里 |
| Stating where you eat | 我在这里吃饭 | 我吃饭在这里 |
| Asking about location | 你在这里住吗？ | 你住这里吗？ |
Appears in Stories 5 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
-
这里 的山东菜很好吃。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
-
这里 的森林就在大海旁边，过去一直比较凉快。
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.
-
北京人也说“ 这里 ”和“那里”吗？
-
我觉得老上海人喜欢说“ 这里 ”、“那里”和“哪里”，不喜欢说“……
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。
-
很多天后的一天早上，高先明来 这里 坐车。
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.
-
老先生对白天明说：“我八十岁了，儿子和女儿都在北京工作，我一个人住在 这里 。
-
白天明对老先生说：“老先生，我天天都来 这里 和您说话。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!