Demonstrative Pronouns: 该, 另, 兹
指示代词：该、另、兹
Use the formal demonstrative pronouns 该, 另, and 兹 in written and official Chinese contexts
该 (the aforementioned/said), 另 (other/another), and 兹 (hereby/herewith) are formal demonstrative pronouns placed before nouns. 该 refers back to something already mentioned, 另 introduces an alternative, and 兹 marks the present moment or document in official declarations.
该 is extremely common in formal writing and news. 另 is used across registers but is especially frequent in formal contexts. 兹 is highly formal and mostly limited to legal documents, official notices, and certificates.
Lesson Targets
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Podcast: Demonstrative Pronouns: 该, 另, 兹 (指示代词：该、另、兹)
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Understanding 指示代词：该、另、兹
At this advanced level, you need demonstrative pronouns that go beyond 这 and 那. Enter 该, 另, and 兹 — three formal pointers that are indispensable in Chinese written communication. 该 (gāi) means "the said / the aforementioned" and is the workhorse of formal reference. When a news article mentions a company and then says 该企业, it means "said enterprise" — pointing back to what was just mentioned without repeating the full name. 另 (lìng) means "other / another / separately" and is used to introduce alternatives or additional items. 兹 (zī) is the most formal of the three, meaning "hereby / herewith," and appears almost exclusively in official documents, certificates, and legal notices. Mastering these three pronouns will make your formal Chinese writing precise and professional.
Key Points
- 该 (gāi) = "the said / the aforementioned" — refers back to a previously mentioned noun.
- 该 + noun is standard in news and official writing: 该公司 (said company), 该地区 (said region), 该项目 (said project).
- 另 (lìng) = "other / another / additionally" — introduces an alternative or additional item.
- 另 can modify nouns directly: 另一个问题 (another question), 另一方面 (on the other hand).
- 另外 (lìngwài) is the extended form used as a conjunction: 另外，我还想说…… (Additionally, I also want to say……).
- 兹 (zī) = "hereby / herewith" — extremely formal, used in official declarations and certificates.
- 兹 appears in set phrases: 兹定于 (it is hereby decided that), 兹证明 (this is to certify that).
The use of 该 in Chinese journalism follows a strict referencing convention: once an entity is introduced by its full name, subsequent mentions use 该 + a generic noun (该校, 该市, 该国). This practice keeps writing concise and avoids repetition — a hallmark of good Chinese prose style.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
该企业成立于2005年。
Said enterprise was established in 2005.
News/formal writing — referring back to a previously mentioned company
这是另一回事。
That is another matter entirely.
兹定于三月十五日举行会议。
It is hereby decided that the meeting shall be held on March 15th.
Official notice language
该地区的经济发展迅速。
The economic development of said region has been rapid.
请从另一个角度思考这个问题。
Please think about this problem from another angle.
兹证明张三先生于本公司任职。
This is to certify that Mr. Zhang San is employed at this company.
该校今年录取了五百名新生。
Said school admitted five hundred new students this year.
另外，我还有一个问题想请教。
Additionally, I have another question I would like to ask.
Common Mistakes
该 as a demonstrative pronoun is for formal/written contexts. In casual speech, use 那个 or 这个 instead.
兹 is used in impersonal official notices, not casual personal communication. It does not take a personal subject like 我.
另 typically requires a measure word: 另一个, 另一方面. It does not directly modify a noun without a measure word in most cases.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Train yourself to use 该 when writing summaries: introduce a topic with its full name, then switch to 该 + category noun for subsequent mentions.
Learn the 兹 set phrases as fixed units: 兹定于, 兹证明, 兹通知 — do not try to create new combinations.
Another vs. additionally: 另一个 introduces a different item; 另外 introduces an additional point. Keep them distinct.
Read official Chinese government announcements to see 该 and 兹 in their natural habitat.
Homework
Write a short formal news report (100-150 characters) about a fictional company. Introduce the company by its full name in the first sentence, then use 该企业 or 该公司 in subsequent sentences. End with 另外 to add a supplementary fact. Separately, write a formal certificate using 兹证明.
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