此 (cǐ) is a Chinese character meaning “this”. It is written from 止 (stop) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger), side by side, and takes 6 strokes.
Build the character for “this; here”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
止 + 匕
Left–right structure
Structure from: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 现代字形笔画核验（第 1–4 笔构成 止，第 5–6 笔构成 匕）
Memory aid
A foot halts (止) on the left and a spoon (匕) is set down on the right — someone stops walking and points at the ground: this spot, right here.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
6 strokes
In real words
- 从此cóng cǐfrom now on; from then on此 = cǐHSK 4
- 因此yīn cǐtherefore; for this reason此 = cǐHSK 4
- 彼此bǐ cǐeach other; one another; both sides此 = cǐspoken asbí cǐ
Go deeper
All readings
this; here
this; these; here; now
这；这个；这里。多用于书面语，如「因此」「从此」。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 从此cóng cǐfrom now on; from then on此 = cǐHSK 4
- 因此yīn cǐtherefore; for this reason此 = cǐHSK 4
- 彼此bǐ cǐeach other; one another; both sides此 = cǐspoken asbí cǐ
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 此 mean?
此 (cǐ) means this; these; here; now.
How do you pronounce 此?
It is pronounced cǐ.
What parts is 此 made of?
止 (stop) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger), side by side. The recorded source is: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 现代字形笔画核验（第 1–4 笔构成 止，第 5–6 笔构成 匕）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 此 have?
6. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 此?
止. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 此?
Common ones are 从此 and 因此. The reading of 此 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.