Difference between revisions of "The filler word "neige""
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Sometimes when speaking you may blank out a bit, forget a little word or phrase, and you need something to say while gathering your thoughts. Or maybe you need to stall for a while. Well, the word 那个（nèige) is just what you need. | Sometimes when speaking you may blank out a bit, forget a little word or phrase, and you need something to say while gathering your thoughts. Or maybe you need to stall for a while. Well, the word 那个（nèige) is just what you need. | ||
| − | == | + | == General rule == |
In English, words like "uhm" and "er" 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 used for this purpose. This can sound a bit unfortunate<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> to English speakers, but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers. | In English, words like "uhm" and "er" 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 used for this purpose. This can sound a bit unfortunate<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> to English speakers, but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers. | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | * <em>那个</em>...这样 做 不 好 吧？ | ||
| + | * <em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗？ | ||
| + | * <em>那个</em>...不好意思，我 要 走 了。 | ||
| + | * 她 很 漂亮，就 像 <em>那个</em>... 明星 一样。 | ||
* <em>那个</em>...我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了，好 吗？<span class="trans">So. . .uhm, I won't eat with you guys, OK?</span> | * <em>那个</em>...我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了，好 吗？<span class="trans">So. . .uhm, 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="trans">I want to eat that. . .uhm. . .whatchamacallit. . .Hunan cuisine.</span> | * 我 想 吃 <em>那个</em>... <em>那个</em>...湖南 菜。<span class="trans">I want to eat that. . .uhm. . .whatchamacallit. . .Hunan cuisine.</span> | ||
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* 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 <em>那个</em>...<em>那个</em>...iPhone。<span class="trans">I‘d like to have a look at ···uhm···your iphone you just bought.</span> | * 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 <em>那个</em>...<em>那个</em>...iPhone。<span class="trans">I‘d like to have a look at ···uhm···your iphone you just bought.</span> | ||
* <em>那个</em>...我 得 去 开会 了。<span class="trans">Uhm...I have to attend a meeting.</span> | * <em>那个</em>...我 得 去 开会 了。<span class="trans">Uhm...I have to attend a meeting.</span> | ||
| − | * 昨天<em>那个</em>...<em>那个</em>... | + | * 昨天 <em>那个</em>...<em>那个</em>...小笼包 真 好吃。<span class="trans">The ···uhm···steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.</span> |
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</div> | </div> | ||
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{{POS|Conjunctions}} | {{POS|Conjunctions}} | ||
{{Used for|Connecting ideas}} | {{Used for|Connecting ideas}} | ||
| + | {{Translation|uhm}} | ||
| + | {{Translation|well}} | ||
Revision as of 03:27, 20 February 2014
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Sometimes when speaking you may blank out a bit, forget a little word or phrase, and you need something to say while gathering your thoughts. Or maybe you need to stall for a while. Well, the word 那个（nèige) is just what you need.
General rule
In English, words like "uhm" and "er" are used as filler[1] words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is used for this purpose. This can sound a bit unfortunate[2] to English speakers, but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.
那个 can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "like" in English, or filler words in general.
Examples
Some examples:
- 那个...这样 做 不 好 吧？
- 那个...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗？
- 那个...不好意思，我 要 走 了。
- 她 很 漂亮，就 像 那个... 明星 一样。
- 那个...我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了，好 吗？So. . .uhm, I won't eat with you guys, OK?
- 我 想 吃 那个... 那个...湖南 菜。I want to eat that. . .uhm. . .whatchamacallit. . .Hunan cuisine.
- 那个...我 明天 可能 晚 点儿 到 公司。Uhm...I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.
- 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 那个...那个...iPhone。I‘d like to have a look at ···uhm···your iphone you just bought.
- 那个...我 得 去 开会 了。Uhm...I have to attend a meeting.
- 昨天 那个...那个...小笼包 真 好吃。The ···uhm···steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.
References
- ↑ Filler (linguistics) on Wikipedia
- ↑ See This or That? Mandarin and the "N" word for elaboration
Further reading
Needs academic references!
