<p>斯 refers to a person mostly, as in 天將降大任於斯人也...</p>

<p>Interestingly, 这斯 in ancient Chinese means "this (bad) guy" in 水浒传, used by a rude guy frequently. As mentioned, it is an ancient word used in this way, don't use it in your daily life.</p>

<p>斯 have other use in modern Chinese, forming vocabulary like 斯文 which means well behaved or polite. Also for translating foreign words with their pronunciation, like Oscar to 奧斯卡.</p>

<p>这 is more commonly spoken than 此, and it can refer to almost anything that I thought of. </p>

<p>此 sound more like written script. If it is used in spoken communication, most likely it is a phrase or the speaker want to sound formal.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T20:54:50.533Z
生於斯, 長於斯 (born in this place, growing up in this place) .  斯 means "this"
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T15:28:12.097Z
2016-10-20T15:28:12.097Z
Kathy
<p>斯 is ancient Chinese language usage, and 此 is more used in writing language. 这 is most common nowadays.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T11:56:40.643Z
Does 斯 have any uses in the modern language?
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T13:10:04.690Z
No. Delete it from your flashcard deck.
Enrico Brasil
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-25T15:36:12.113Z
I've found it used in a Facebook message from my Chinese friend in the idiom "慢條斯理". (I also have a hunch that it might be widely used in transliterating words from foreign languages too, in which case it wouldn't carry the meaning "this" or anything else.)
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T09:20:46.807Z
2016-10-20T09:20:46.807Z
science belief
<p>Nobody mentioned 该。 It is not clear to me where, at what point, 'this' becomes 'that'.</p>

<p>zdic says:该： 那，着重指出前面说过的人或事物。</p>

<p>前面 is close enough to be 'this' I think, although 该， when used like an English article, is mostly translated as 'the'.</p>

<p>该装潢公司提出， This decoration company suggests，</p>

<p>该体系适用于8层, This system can be applied in 8 levels,</p>

<p>该中心楼高8层, This centre is 8 stories high,</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-14T05:18:32.640Z
CCG has   斯人 (fml.) this person
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-21T01:15:05.787Z
2016-10-21T01:15:05.787Z
Gangosa
<p>斯 is old tone.don't use it in any situation.</p>

<p>这 is more like 'that' than 'this'.这是一个没有答案的问题-->it's a question <strong>that</strong> without an answer. use 这 only you mention before.</p>

<p>or
when begin with 这，it's just mean 'this'.</p>

<p>此 often come with the object.此地-->this place. 此刻--> right moment. 此人-->this people.
also 此 is fit in rhyme</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-22T06:54:45.437Z
Is 斯 maybe in some compound words or chengyu? If so it would still make sense for it to be in a flashcard course...
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-22T18:06:07.133Z
better not do that. [link](http://www.zdic.net/z/1b/js/65AF.htm) say it has the meaning of 'this'.
I am not a linguist but i think no one use 斯 in daily life now .
gordon yang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-25T15:37:35.107Z
I'm not sure whether 慢條斯理 counts as a compound word or a chengyu, but my Chinese friend just used it in a Facebook update.
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-13T08:10:17.577Z
慢條斯理 is a Chengyu, so 斯 is still used.
Angli Xue
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-22T01:00:06.323Z
2016-10-22T01:00:06.323Z
gordon yang
<p>What are the differences between these three, 斯 vs 这 vs 此, and any other characters or words for "this" in Mandarin Chinese?</p>

<p>I'm just a beginner and I've noticed at least these few characters are in my Memrise flashcard courses all with English translation of "this".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T09:46:29.970Z
grammars when discussing demonstrative pronouns (指示代词）only list 这 and usually do not even mention 斯 and 此，此 used in classical Chinese and bookish style, official documents (e.g.此地、此后、此间、此刻、此前、此人）also in common sayings，expressions like 此地无银三百两，此起彼伏，此外， 斯 in the meaning of "this" appears to have extremely low usage frequency
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T11:59:32.133Z
Yes 这 was the only one I had known until I got deeper into the flashcard course of 1000 characters. I don't know the basis of how they chose the particular thousand they did.
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-21T02:28:00.000Z
I believe there is also 兹 - I've also seen dialect resources where they mention 兹 as being use, I.e.: 兹个、兹块、etc
Mou某
<word-choice><mandarin><characters><synonyms>
斯 vs 这 vs 此 for the meaning "this"?
# 斯 vs 这 vs 此 for the meaning "this"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-20)

What are the differences between these three, 斯 vs 这 vs 此, and any other characters or words for "this" in Mandarin Chinese?

I'm just a beginner and I've noticed at least these few characters are in my Memrise flashcard courses all with English translation of "this".

**Tags:** word-choice, mandarin, characters, synonyms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: grammars when discussing demonstrative pronouns (指示代词）only list 这 and usually do not even mention 斯 and 此，此 used in classical Chinese and bookish style, official documents (e.g.此地、此后、此间、此刻、此前、此人）also in common sayings，expressions like 此地无银三百两，此起彼伏，此外， 斯 in the meaning of "this" appears to have extremely low usage frequency  
> **username_0**: Yes 这 was the only one I had known until I got deeper into the flashcard course of 1000 characters. I don't know the basis of how they chose the particular thousand they did.  
> **username_2**: I believe there is also 兹 - I've also seen dialect resources where they mention 兹 as being use, I.e.: 兹个、兹块、etc  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-10-20. Score: 6

斯 is ancient Chinese language usage, and 此 is more used in writing language. 这 is most common nowadays.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does 斯 have any uses in the modern language?  
> **username_6**: No. Delete it from your flashcard deck.  
> **username_0**: I've found it used in a Facebook message from my Chinese friend in the idiom "慢條斯理". (I also have a hunch that it might be widely used in transliterating words from foreign languages too, in which case it wouldn't carry the meaning "this" or anything else.)  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-10-20. Score: 4

斯 refers to a person mostly, as in 天將降大任於斯人也...

Interestingly, 这斯 in ancient Chinese means "this (bad) guy" in 水浒传, used by a rude guy frequently. As mentioned, it is an ancient word used in this way, don't use it in your daily life.

斯 have other use in modern Chinese, forming vocabulary like 斯文 which means well behaved or polite. Also for translating foreign words with their pronunciation, like Oscar to 奧斯卡.

这 is more commonly spoken than 此, and it can refer to almost anything that I thought of.

此 sound more like written script. If it is used in spoken communication, most likely it is a phrase or the speaker want to sound formal.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 生於斯, 長於斯 (born in this place, growing up in this place) .  斯 means "this"  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-10-21. Score: 2

Nobody mentioned 该。 It is not clear to me where, at what point, 'this' becomes 'that'.

zdic says:该： 那，着重指出前面说过的人或事物。

前面 is close enough to be 'this' I think, although 该， when used like an English article, is mostly translated as 'the'.

该装潢公司提出， This decoration company suggests，

该体系适用于8层, This system can be applied in 8 levels,

该中心楼高8层, This centre is 8 stories high,

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: CCG has   斯人 (fml.) this person  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2016-10-22. Score: 1

斯 is old tone.don't use it in any situation.

这 is more like 'that' than 'this'.这是一个没有答案的问题-->it's a question **that** without an answer. use 这 only you mention before.

or
when begin with 这，it's just mean 'this'.

此 often come with the object.此地-->this place. 此刻--> right moment. 此人-->this people.
also 此 is fit in rhyme

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is 斯 maybe in some compound words or chengyu? If so it would still make sense for it to be in a flashcard course...  
> **username_8**: better not do that. [link](http://www.zdic.net/z/1b/js/65AF.htm) say it has the meaning of 'this'. I am not a linguist but i think no one use 斯 in daily life now .  
> **username_0**: I'm not sure whether 慢條斯理 counts as a compound word or a chengyu, but my Chinese friend just used it in a Facebook update.  
> **username_9**: 慢條斯理 is a Chengyu, so 斯 is still used.  

---

