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) | + | 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 ( | + | 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 ( | + | 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> | + | * <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> | + | * 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> | + | * <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> | + | * <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> | + | * <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> | + | * <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> | + | * 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> | + | * 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> | + | * <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> | + | * 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> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 15:53, 9 July 2015
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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
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 ？ So, ummm... I won't eat with you guys, OK?
- 我 想 吃 那个 …… 那个 …… 湖南 菜 。 I want to eat that... ummm, you know... Hunan cuisine.
- 那个 …… 我 明天 可能 晚 点儿 到 公司 。 Ummm... I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.
- 那个 …… 这样 做 不 好 吧 ？ Ummm, it's not good to do it this way?
- 那个 …… 你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗 ？ Like... could you be my girlfriend?
- 那个 …… 不好意思 ， 我 要 走 了 。 Ummmm... sorry, but I've gotta go.
- 她 很 漂亮 ， 就 像 那个 …… 明星 一样 。 She's very pretty, just like, you know, a celebrity.
- 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 那个 …… 那个...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 。 Ummm... I have to attend a meeting.
- 昨天 那个 …… 那个 …… 小笼包 真 好吃 。 Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.
References
- ↑ Filler (linguistics) on Wikipedia
- ↑ See This or That? Mandarin and the "N" word for elaboration
