Here and There in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The terms “here” and “there” in Chinese can be translated as follows:

• Here: 這裡这里 zhèlǐ or 這兒这儿 zhèr
• There: 那裡里 nàlǐ or 那兒儿 nàr

Structure

These words indicate location and can be used to specify a place or refer to a position relative to the speaker. 這兒这儿 zhèr and 那兒儿 nàr are more colloquial and informal versions. In Taiwan, the 兒儿 er is usually dropped.

這裡zhèlǐ有yǒu一yì隻zhī可愛kěài的de小xiǎo狗gǒu这里zhèlǐ有yǒu一yì只zhī可爱kěài的de小xiǎo狗gǒu
Here is a cute little dog.

那裡nàlǐ是shì國家guójiā公園gōngyuán那里nàlǐ是shì国家guójiā公园gōngyuán
There is a national park.

我wǒ在zài這兒zhèr！ 我wǒ在zài这儿zhèr！
I am here!

廁所cèsuǒ在zài那兒nàr厕所cèsuǒ在zài那儿nàr
The restroom is over there.

這裡zhèlǐ有yǒu太tài多duō人rén了le这里zhèlǐ有yǒu太tài多duō人rén了le
There are too many people here.

那裡nàlǐ的de飯fàn很hěn好吃hǎochī那里nàlǐ的de饭fàn很hěn好吃hǎochī
The food there is delicious.

Special usage

When we use a pronoun followed by 那 nà or 這这 zhè, it implies being “with” that person. So, 在我這这 zài wǒ zhè means “with me” or “at my place.”

你的nǐde東西dōngxī在zài我這裡wǒzhèlǐ你的nǐde东西dōngxi在zài我这里wǒzhèlǐ
Your belongings are with me.

我的wǒde手機shǒujī在zài你那兒nǐnàr嗎ma？ 我的wǒde手机shǒujī在zài你那儿nǐnàr吗ma？
Is my phone with you?

Common Mistakes

Two character 那 nà and 哪 nǎ are indeed similar, but they have different meanings. 那 nà is used to indicate “there” and 哪 nǎ is “where” in English.

哪裡nǎlǐ有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén嗎ma？ 哪里nǎlǐ有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén吗ma？ ❌
Are there many people there?

那裡nàlǐ有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén嗎ma？ 那里nàlǐ有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén吗ma？ ✅
Are there many people there?

哪裡nǎlǐ有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén？ 哪里nǎlǐ有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén？ ✅
Where are there many people?

• Use 這这 zhè and 那 nà to express “this” and “that” (HSK 1)