此

A demonstrative pronoun indicating something close to the speaker — “this,” as opposed to 彼 (저 피, “that”).

By extension: here, at this place; now, at this time.

Ideogrammatic compound:

止 (그칠 지) — represents a foot, indicating place or position.

匕 (비수 비 / 숟가락 비) — originally a hand or pointing gesture.

Thus 止 + 匕 → 此 — literally “a pointing hand at one’s own position,” meaning “this (near me)” or “here.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「此，止也。从止，匕聲。」

“此 means near or at a place; composed of 止 and phonetic 匕.”

The ancient oracle-bone (甲骨文) and bronze (金文) forms depict a person pointing downward toward something near, reinforcing the deictic meaning “this, here.”

此間 (차간) — this place; here

此人 (차인) — this person

此事 (차사) — this matter

此時 (차시) — this time; now

至此 (지차) — up to this point

自此 (자차) — from this point; henceforth

因此 (인차) — therefore; because of this

Analects (論語 · 先進):

「子曰：此可與言詩已矣。」

“The Master said: With this man, one may speak of poetry.” — 此 refers to “this person” (the one near or at hand).

Mencius (孟子 · 盡心上):

「此心之所以合於理也。」

“This mind is that which accords with principle.” — 此心 “this mind” is a famous philosophical phrase in Neo-Confucian thought.

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 698):

「此，指近也。」

“此 denotes what is near (to the speaker).”

In contrast with 彼 (“that, distant”), 此 embodies proximity, immediacy, and subjectivity — referring to what belongs to one’s own sphere of perception.

In both classical and modern usage, it remains one of the core demonstrative pronouns in Chinese, symbolizing immediacy and presence — the world closest to the speaker.