茲

Hereby (Official)

Level 6Sounds Like zi1

茲 (zi1) is a formal introductory particle used in official documents, certificates, and legal notices. It functions like the English 'hereby' or 'this is to certify,' signaling that an authoritative action is being performed.

How It Works

茲 (zi1) is a remnant of Classical Chinese that remains standard in modern Hong Kong officialese. While it literally means 'this' or 'now,' its grammatical function is to perform an act through writing.

Key Characteristics:

  • Register: It is strictly for Official Document Register. You will see it on university transcripts, government gazettes, and corporate announcements.
  • Position: It usually appears at the start of the clause, though an issuer can come before it (as in 本校茲證明). It does not take aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2).
  • Common Pairings: It is frequently followed by specific formal verbs:
    1. 茲證明 (zi1 zing3 ming4): 'This is to certify...'
    2. 茲通知 (zi1 tung1 zi1): 'Notice is hereby given...'
    3. 茲委任 (zi1 wai2 jam6): 'Hereby appoint...'

Unlike the general demonstrative 呢 (ni1 - this) used in speech, 茲 is never used to point at physical objects. It is also more formal than 特此 (dak6 ci2), which usually appears at the end of a notice.

Examples (3)

  1. 茲證明陳大文先生為本校之全日制學生。

    This is to certify that Mr. Chan Tai Man is a full-time student of this school.

    Word by Word: Hereby certify Chan Tai Man Mr. is this school's full-time student.

    This is the standard opening for a certificate of enrollment or graduation. Note the use of the literary possessive 之 (zi1) instead of the colloquial 嘅 (ge3).

  2. 茲通知各位，本辦事處將於下週一暫停辦理業務。

    Notice is hereby given that this office will suspend operations next Monday.

    Word by Word: Hereby notify everyone, this office will at next Monday suspend handle business.

    Used in a formal public notice. The particle 茲 (zi1) sets a professional, authoritative tone for the announcement.

  3. 茲委任李小玲女士為本會秘書長，即日生效。

    Ms. Li Siu Ling is hereby appointed as the Secretary-General of this association, effective immediately.

    Word by Word: Hereby appoint Li Siu Ling Ms. as this association Secretary-General, immediate day effective.

    Commonly found in official appointment letters or organizational minutes.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 茲 (zi1) in casual speech or text messages.

    茲話畀你知我食咗飯喇。
    我話你知我食咗飯喇。

    茲 (zi1) is strictly for formal writing. Using it in a casual conversation about lunch sounds absurdly legalistic, like saying 'I hereby notify you that I have consumed my meal.'

  • Thinking the issuer cannot come before 茲 (zi1).

    Different Meaning本校茲證明...
    茲證明...

    本校茲證明 is standard certificate wording. When the issuer is already printed in the letterhead, the text often opens with 茲證明 alone. Both are formal.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

茲Level 6Hereby (Official)

Learn This First

茲 (zi1) is a highly formal marker used almost exclusively in official written notices or formal announcements to mean 'hereby'. To use it correctly, learners need to be familiar with the written register of Cantonese and the formal vocabulary typically used in administrative or public notices.

Words in This Pattern

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