kia₁ is used when the speaker points to an object that is far from the speaker (and often also far from the listener). Speakers use kia₁ to indicate something clearly distant in space or attention.
The focus is on distance and separation, not emphasis or attitude.
[1] – Cái ghế kia₁. That chair over there.
→ The chair is far away or clearly separated from the speaker.
[2] – Lấy cái này, không phải cái kia₁. Take this one, not that one over there.
→ kia₁ helps avoid confusion.
[3] – Nhà kia₁ là nhà của tôi. That house over there is my house.
→ The object can usually be seen.
kia₁ vs này
– này: near the speaker – kia₁: far from the speaker
[4a] – Quyển sách này. ntny This book.
[4b] – Quyển sách kia₁. That book over there.
kia₁ vs đó / đấy
– đó / đấy: medium distance or shared focus – kia₁: clear distance
[5a] – Cái bàn đó. That table (not very far).
[5b] – Cái bàn kia₁. That table over there (far).
• kia₁ usually comes after the noun.
• Common in both spoken and written Vietnamese.
• Often used with pointing gestures in speech.
• Does not carry emotional tone by itself.
• Noun + kia₁
– Người kia₁ là ai? Who is that person over there?
• này … kia₁ (contrast)
– Cái này rẻ hơn cái kia₁. This one is cheaper than that one over there.
kia₁ keeps distance clear — it tells the listener: “not this one here, but that one far away.”