这里

• Pinyin: zhè lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 这 = this; 里 = 田 (field) + 土 (earth) — village, inside, place

Meaning

Here; this place. Refers to the location where the speaker is.

The standard way to say 'here' in Mandarin, used across all regions. More common in southern Mandarin and written language than the erhua variant 这儿. Can be used as a subject, object, or after a preposition: 在这里 (at here), 从这里 (from here).

Examples

1. 我住在这里。 I live here.
2. 这里有很多人。 There are many people here.
3. 请在这里等一下。 Please wait here for a moment.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, directions

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们在这里见面吧。(Let's meet here.)
• 这里是学校。(Here is the school.)

Don't Say

• 在这里里面。(Don't double up 里 — say 在这里面 or 在里面)

Origin & History

Compound of 这 (this) + 里 (inside/place). 里 originally meant the inside of a village or neighbourhood.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal