Difference between revisions of "Measure words with "this" and "that""
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| − | In English, when you refer to "that girl" or "this table" you only need | + | In English, when you refer to "that girl" or "this table" you only need two words: "this" or "that" plus the noun you're referring to. In Chinese, though, you also need a [[measure word]] in the middle between the two. In the very beginning you can get away with using 个 (ge) for everything, but pretty soon you're going to have to start using other measure words in these simple phrases. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
Revision as of 07:39, 22 November 2013
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Keywords
In English, when you refer to "that girl" or "this table" you only need two words: "this" or "that" plus the noun you're referring to. In Chinese, though, you also need a measure word in the middle between the two. In the very beginning you can get away with using 个 (ge) for everything, but pretty soon you're going to have to start using other measure words in these simple phrases.
Structure
If you use 这 (zhè) or 那 (nà) before a noun, you need to include a measure word (MW).
这 / 那 + MW + Noun
Examples
- 那 个 人 that person
- 这 瓶 啤酒 this bottle of beer
- 那 块 巧克力 that piece of chocolate
- 这 张 桌子 this table
- 这 本 书this book
- 这 个 手机this cell phone
- 这 只 小 狗this small dog
- 那 只 小 猫that small cat
- 那 杯 咖啡that cup of coffee
- 那 条 鱼that fish
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 33) →buy
