Difference between revisions of "The filler word "neige""

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In conversation, you may find yourself at a loss for words, unable to find the correct phrase you are looking for, or simply needing time to gather your thoughts. When you experience this feeling, in English, you may say "umm" or another filler word, In Chinese, the word for this is 那个 (nàge)
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In conversation, you may find yourself at a loss for words, unable to find the correct phrase you are looking for, or simply needing time to gather your thoughts. When you experience this feeling, in English, you may say "umm" or another filler word, In Chinese, the word for this is 那个 (nèige). (The word 那个 can be pronounced both "nàge" and "nèige," but for this usage, "nèige" is normally used.)
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
In English, words like "ummm" and "uh" are used as filler<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) Filler (linguistics)] on Wikipedia</ref> words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nàge) is also used for this purpose.  To English speakers, this may raise an eyebrow,  because it can sound a bit "racist"<ref>See [http://mandarinhood.blogspot.com/2010/12/this-or-that-mandarin-and-n-word.html This or That? Mandarin and the "N" word] for elaboration</ref>  but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.
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In English, words like "ummm" and "uh" are used as filler<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) Filler (linguistics)] on Wikipedia</ref> words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is also used for this purpose.  To English speakers, this may raise an eyebrow,  because it can sound a bit "racist"<ref>See [http://mandarinhood.blogspot.com/2010/12/this-or-that-mandarin-and-n-word.html This or That? Mandarin and the "N" word] for elaboration</ref>  but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.
  
 
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那个 (nàge) can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "umm" or "you know" or "like" in English, or filler words in general.
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那个 (nèige) can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "umm" or "you know" or "like" in English, or filler words in general.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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* <em>那个</em> …… 我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了 , 好 吗 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Nàge</em> …… wǒ bù hé nǐmenyīqǐ chīfàn le, hǎo ma?</span> <span class="trans">So, ummm... I won't eat with you guys, OK?</span>
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* <em>那个</em> …… 我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了 , 好 吗 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em> …… wǒ bù hé nǐmen yīqǐ chīfàn le, hǎo ma?</span> <span class="trans">So, ummm... I won't eat with you guys, OK?</span>
* 我 想 吃 <em>那个</em> …… <em>那个</em> …… 湖南 菜 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng chī <em>nàge</em> …… <em>nàge</em> …… Húnán cài.</span> <span class="trans">I want to eat that... ummm, you know... Hunan cuisine.</span>
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* 我 想 吃 <em>那个</em> …… <em>那个</em> …… 湖南 菜 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng chī <em>nèige</em> …… <em>nèige</em> …… Húnán cài.</span> <span class="trans">I want to eat that... ummm, you know... Hunan cuisine.</span>
* <em>那个</em> …… 我 明天 可能 晚 点儿 到 公司 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nàge</em> …… wǒ míngtiān kěnéng wǎn diǎnr dào gōngsī.</span> <span class="trans">Ummm... I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.</span>
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* <em>那个</em> …… 我 明天 可能 晚 点儿 到 公司 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em> …… wǒ míngtiān kěnéng wǎn diǎnr dào gōngsī.</span> <span class="trans">Ummm... I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.</span>
* <em>那个</em> …… 这样 做 不 好 吧 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Nàge</em> …… zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo bā?</span> <span class="trans">Ummm, it's not good to do it this way?</span>
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* <em>那个</em> …… 这样 做 不 好 吧 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em> …… zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo bā?</span> <span class="trans">Ummm, it's not good to do it this way?</span>
* <em>那个</em> …… 你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Nàge</em> …… nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚ péngyǒu ma?</span> <span class="trans">Like... could you be my girlfriend?</span>
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* <em>那个</em> …… 你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em> …… nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚ péngyǒu ma?</span> <span class="trans">Like... could you be my girlfriend?</span>
* <em>那个</em> …… 不好意思 , 我 要 走 了 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nàge</em> …… bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ yào zǒu le.</span> <span class="trans">Ummmm... sorry, but I've gotta go.</span>
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* <em>那个</em> …… 不好意思 , 我 要 走 了 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em> …… bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ yào zǒu le.</span> <span class="trans">Ummmm... sorry, but I've gotta go.</span>
* 她 很 漂亮 , 就 像 <em>那个</em> …… 明星 一样 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā hěn piàoliang, jiù xiàng <em>nàge</em> …… míng xīng yīyàng.</span> <span class="trans">She's very pretty, just like, you know, a celebrity.</span>
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* 她 很 漂亮 , 就 像 <em>那个</em> …… 明星 一样 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā hěn piàoliang, jiù xiàng <em>nèige</em> …… míngxīng yīyàng.</span> <span class="trans">She's very pretty, just like, you know, a celebrity.</span>
* 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 <em>那个</em> …… <em>那个</em>...iPhone 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng kān kān nǐ gāng mǎi de <em>nàge</em> …… <em>nàge</em>...iPhone.</span> <span class="trans">I‘d like to have a look at your, ummm, you know... iPhone you just bought.</span>
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* 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 <em>那个</em> …… <em>那个</em>...iPhone 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng kān kān nǐ gāng mǎi de <em>nèige</em>... <em>nèige</em>... iPhone.</span> <span class="trans">I‘d like to have a look at your, ummm, you know... iPhone you just bought.</span>
* <em>那个</em> …… 我 得 去 开会 了 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nàge</em> …… wǒ dé qù kāihuì le.</span> <span class="trans">Ummm... I have to attend a meeting.</span>
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* <em>那个</em> …… 我 得 去 开会 了 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em>... wǒ dé qù kāihuì le.</span> <span class="trans">Ummm... I have to attend a meeting.</span>
* 昨天 <em>那个</em> …… <em>那个</em> …… 小笼包 真 好吃 。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>nàge</em> …… <em>nàge</em> …… xiǎolóngbāo zhēn hǎochī.</span> <span class="trans">Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.</span>
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* 昨天 <em>那个</em> …… <em>那个</em> …… 小笼包 真 好吃 。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>nèige</em>... <em>nèige</em>... xiǎolóngbāo zhēn hǎochī.</span> <span class="trans">Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 15:53, 9 July 2015

Chinese-grammar-wiki-ge (1).jpg

In conversation, you may find yourself at a loss for words, unable to find the correct phrase you are looking for, or simply needing time to gather your thoughts. When you experience this feeling, in English, you may say "umm" or another filler word, In Chinese, the word for this is 那个 (nèige). (The word 那个 can be pronounced both "nàge" and "nèige," but for this usage, "nèige" is normally used.)

Structure

In English, words like "ummm" and "uh" are used as filler[1] words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is also used for this purpose. To English speakers, this may raise an eyebrow, because it can sound a bit "racist"[2] but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.

(那个……) (那个……) + [anything] + (那个……)

那个 (nèige) can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "umm" or "you know" or "like" in English, or filler words in general.

Examples

  • 那个 …… 我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了 , 好 吗 ? Nèige …… wǒ bù hé nǐmen yīqǐ chīfàn le, hǎo ma? So, ummm... I won't eat with you guys, OK?
  • 我 想 吃 那个 …… 那个 …… 湖南 菜 。 Wǒ xiǎng chī nèige …… nèige …… Húnán cài. I want to eat that... ummm, you know... Hunan cuisine.
  • 那个 …… 我 明天 可能 晚 点儿 到 公司 。 Nèige …… wǒ míngtiān kěnéng wǎn diǎnr dào gōngsī. Ummm... I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.
  • 那个 …… 这样 做 不 好 吧 ? Nèige …… zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo bā? Ummm, it's not good to do it this way?
  • 那个 …… 你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗 ? Nèige …… nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚ péngyǒu ma? Like... could you be my girlfriend?
  • 那个 …… 不好意思 , 我 要 走 了 。 Nèige …… bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ yào zǒu le. Ummmm... sorry, but I've gotta go.
  • 她 很 漂亮 , 就 像 那个 …… 明星 一样 。 Tā hěn piàoliang, jiù xiàng nèige …… míngxīng yīyàng. She's very pretty, just like, you know, a celebrity.
  • 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 那个 …… 那个...iPhone 。 Wǒ xiǎng kān kān nǐ gāng mǎi de nèige... nèige... iPhone. I‘d like to have a look at your, ummm, you know... iPhone you just bought.
  • 那个 …… 我 得 去 开会 了 。 Nèige... wǒ dé qù kāihuì le. Ummm... I have to attend a meeting.
  • 昨天 那个 …… 那个 …… 小笼包 真 好吃 。 Zuótiān nèige... nèige... xiǎolóngbāo zhēn hǎochī. Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.

References


Sources and further reading