<p>The distinction was present early on. In Classical Chinese, <em>this</em> is「此」, still used in Modern Chinese, while <em>that</em> is「彼」, which is not really used anymore except fossilised in some words.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>《<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_of_Poetry" rel="noreferrer">詩</a>・唐風・綢繆》：「今夕何夕，見<strong>此</strong>良人！」</p>
<p>《<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching" rel="noreferrer">易</a>・小過》：「公弋取<strong>彼</strong>在穴。」</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-04T11:06:15.867Z
Also 是, for a more general _this_: 《論》：是可忍，孰不可忍？
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-04T02:31:08.903Z
2019-01-04T02:31:08.903Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dROOOze
<p>"这" also can indicate something has just mentioned.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-04T05:33:04.470Z
Yes, like: I know 1 + 1 is two. I know that. Then 'that' refers to '1 + 1 = 2' Then 'that' is an anaphor, from Greek 'anapherein' literally meaning 'carry back'. I just wondered if the difference between this and that was present in old Chinese. In fact, I'm sure Old English had this distinction too.
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-04T03:25:26.210Z
2019-01-04T03:25:26.210Z
Hu Bin
<p>In English, we use <em>this</em> to indicate something close to us, or the first one and <em>that</em> to indicate something further off, or the next one. Apparently, early English did not have this distinction.</p>

<p>This quote is from <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/that#etymonline_v_10712" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here:</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>that: From c. 1200 opposed to this as indicating something farther
  off.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Chinese has 这， 那 which seem to correspond with this, that.</p>

<p>Has Chinese always made a distinction between this and that? In old Chinese was this distinction present?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-04T11:54:10.773Z
Reechen, du sollst mal Antworten schreiben, das weißt du ja. Warum so schüchtern? Hör einmal auf den Leuten hier. Tut ja nicht weh.
Pedroski
<usage>
Chinese this and that
# Chinese this and that

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-04)

In English, we use *this* to indicate something close to us, or the first one and *that* to indicate something further off, or the next one. Apparently, early English did not have this distinction.

This quote is from [here:](https://www.etymonline.com/word/that#etymonline_v_10712)

> that: From c. 1200 opposed to this as indicating something farther
> off.

Chinese has 这， 那 which seem to correspond with this, that.

Has Chinese always made a distinction between this and that? In old Chinese was this distinction present?

**Tags:** usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Reechen, du sollst mal Antworten schreiben, das weißt du ja. Warum so schüchtern? Hör einmal auf den Leuten hier. Tut ja nicht weh.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-01-04. Score: 7

The distinction was present early on. In Classical Chinese, *this* is「此」, still used in Modern Chinese, while *that* is「彼」, which is not really used anymore except fossilised in some words.

> 《[詩](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_of_Poetry)・唐風・綢繆》：「今夕何夕，見**此**良人！」
>
> 《[易](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching)・小過》：「公弋取**彼**在穴。」

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Also 是, for a more general _this_: 《論》：是可忍，孰不可忍？  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-01-04. Score: -1

"这" also can indicate something has just mentioned.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, like: I know 1 + 1 is two. I know that. Then 'that' refers to '1 + 1 = 2' Then 'that' is an anaphor, from Greek 'anapherein' literally meaning 'carry back'. I just wondered if the difference between this and that was present in old Chinese. In fact, I'm sure Old English had this distinction too.  

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