zhè shì róushùnjì.

This follows the very common Mandarin pattern:

subject + 是 + noun

So here:

• 这 = this
• 是 = links this with what it is
• 柔顺剂 = the thing being identified

It works a lot like This is X in English.

这 means this.

In this sentence, 这 is being used as a pronoun, like this in English. That is why it can stand alone:

• 这是柔顺剂。 = This is fabric softener.

If you want to say this one or this bottle, you might use a longer form such as:

• 这个 = this one / this
• 这瓶 = this bottle

But 这 by itself is completely natural when you are pointing something out.

Because here 这 is functioning as a complete pronoun: this.

When 这 modifies a noun directly, you usually need a measure word:

• 这本书 = this book
• 这瓶水 = this bottle of water
• 这件衣服 = this piece of clothing

But in 这是柔顺剂, 这 is not directly modifying 柔顺剂. It stands alone as this, so no measure word is needed.

In this sentence, 是 connects the subject with a noun, so it works a lot like is in English:

• 这是柔顺剂。
• This is fabric softener.

But 是 is not used in every case where English uses is.

For example, with adjectives, Mandarin usually does not use 是:

• 它很大。 = It is big.
• not 它是很大。 in normal usage

So a useful beginner rule is:

• use 是 when saying A is B and B is a noun or noun phrase
• do not automatically use 是 before adjectives

Yes, you can.

• 这是柔顺剂。 = This is fabric softener.
• 这个是柔顺剂。 = This one is fabric softener / This is fabric softener.

Both are natural, but they feel slightly different:

• 这 is a simpler this
• 这个 often feels like this one or a more explicitly identified object

If you are pointing at an item, both can work.

It is a compound word:

• 柔 = soft / gentle
• 顺 = smooth / compliant
• 剂 = agent / product / preparation

So 柔顺剂 is literally something like a softening/smoothing agent. In everyday use, it refers to fabric softener or a similar softening product, depending on context.

It is pronounced:

róu shùn jì

Tone by tone:

• 柔 róu — 2nd tone
• 顺 shùn — 4th tone
• 剂 jì — 4th tone

A rough pronunciation guide for an English speaker:

• róu sounds somewhat like roh with a rising tone, but with a Chinese r
• shùn sounds a bit like shwoon with a falling tone
• jì sounds a bit like jee with a falling tone

The Chinese r, sh, and j are not exactly the same as English sounds, so it is best to listen to native audio if possible.

The standard pronunciation is zhè.

In very careful standard Mandarin, it is simply:

• 这 zhè

But in connected speech, especially before a measure word like 个, many speakers say something that sounds like zhèi, as in:

• 这个 often sounds like zhèi ge

That does not change the meaning. For your sentence, saying zhè shì róushùnjì is correct.

Mandarin does not have articles like English a, an, and the.

So 柔顺剂 can mean:

• fabric softener
• a fabric softener
• the fabric softener

The exact meaning depends on context.

That is very normal in Chinese. You often rely on the situation, not on articles.

Not if you want to mean This is fabric softener.

• 这是柔顺剂。 is correct for identifying something.
• 这柔顺剂 by itself sounds incomplete or like the beginning of a noun phrase, not a full statement.

If you want a full sentence that identifies the object, keep 是.

Yes, very common. It is one of the most useful beginner sentence patterns.

You can use it with many nouns:

• 这是书。 = This is a book.
• 这是我的包。 = This is my bag.
• 这是老师。 = This is the teacher / This is a teacher.
• 这是洗衣液。 = This is laundry detergent.

So 这是 + noun is a great pattern to memorize.

Yes.

• 这是柔顺剂。 = This is fabric softener.
• 那是柔顺剂。 = That is fabric softener.

Use 这 for something near you, and 那 for something farther away, just like this and that in English.

。 is the standard Chinese full stop, the equivalent of the English period .

So:

• 这是柔顺剂。

is punctuated correctly in Chinese writing.

You will usually see Chinese sentences written without spaces between words in normal text:

• 这是柔顺剂。

The spaced version is often only used for teaching learners.