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