To that place; in that direction. It is old English of the kind you only meet in the Bible, in old poems, in fairy tales, and in law.

To that place;到那個地方; in that direction朝那個方向。It is old English of the kind這是一種古英文 you only meet in the Bible, in old poems, in fairy tales, and in law只會在聖經、古詩、童話和法律文件裡看到。

Nobody says it in conversation today. Understand it, do not use it.

Nobody says it in conversation today現在沒有人在對話裡講這個詞。Understand it, do not use it看懂就好，不要拿來用。

Here is the thing that makes it interesting, and it is worth ten minutes of your time.

Here is the thing that makes it interesting,有件事讓它變得有趣 and it is worth ten minutes of your time值得花你十分鐘看一下。

Old English had two words where we now have one. For place, it had 'there' (at that place) and 'thither' (to that place) — and the same pair for 'here': 'here' (at this place) and 'hither' (to this place), and for 'where': 'where' and 'whither' (to what place). So 'go thither' meant 'go to there', and you did not need the word 'to'. That whole system has fallen away; today we just say 'go there', and 'there' has to do both jobs.

Old English had two words古英文用了兩個詞 where we now have one在我們現在只用一個詞的地方。For place,以「那裡」來說 it had 'there' (at that place) and 'thither' (to that place) —它有 'there'（在那個地方）和 'thither'（到那個地方）— and the same pair for 'here':「這裡」也是同一組: 'here' (at this place) and 'hither' (to this place),'here'（在這個地方）和 'hither'（到這個地方） and for 'where':「哪裡」也一樣: 'where' and 'whither' (to what place)'where' 和 'whither'（到什麼地方）。So 'go thither' meant 'go to there',所以 'go thither' 的意思就是「去到那裡」 and you did not need the word 'to'而且不需要另外加 'to' 這個字。That whole system has fallen away;整套系統後來都消失了; today we just say 'go there',現在我們就只說 'go there' and 'there' has to do both jobs'there' 一個詞得身兼兩職。

If you have studied any Chinese grammar you will recognise the idea — a language can mark direction in the word itself. English used to; now it does not.

If you have studied any Chinese grammar如果你學過一點中文文法 you will recognise the idea —你會認得這個概念— a language can mark direction in the word itself一個語言可以把方向直接標在詞彙本身裡。English used to; now it does not英文以前會這樣，現在不會了。

The one place you still hear it is the fixed phrase 'hither and thither', which means moving about in all directions with no plan: 'papers blowing hither and thither'. That phrase is alive; the single word is not.

The one place you still hear it唯一你還聽得到這個詞的地方 is the fixed phrase 'hither and thither',是固定片語 'hither and thither' which means moving about in all directions with no plan:意思是毫無章法地到處移動: 'papers blowing hither and thither''papers blowing hither and thither'紙張被吹得東飄西飄。That phrase is alive;這個片語還活著; the single word is not單獨這個字則已經死了。

You may also see 'thither' put before a noun in very old writing, meaning 'the further one' — 'the thither bank of the river' — but that is rare even in old books.

You may also see 'thither' put before a noun你也可能看到 'thither' 放在名詞前面 in very old writing,在非常古老的文章裡 meaning 'the further one' —意思是「比較遠的那一個」— 'the thither bank of the river' —'the thither bank of the river'河的對岸— but that is rare even in old books但就算在古書裡這也很少見。