Expressing "then…" with "name"

Are you looking for another way to use 那么 (nàme)? Then, take a look at this article!

Structure

When expressing "Then...," you can use "那么"or "那" in order to begin a judgment or result from previous context. An example of this in English would be "Then, what should we do?"

Context ，那么 + Result / Decision

Examples

• 他 不 听 ，那 我 应该 怎么办 ？Tā bù tīng, nà wǒ yīnggāi zěnmebàn? He wouldn't listen. What shall I do then?
• 你 说 得 有 道理 ，那么 就 这么 办 吧 。Nǐ shuō de yǒu dàolǐ, nàme jiù zhème bàn ba.What you said makes sense to me, so just do it as you said.
• 雨 停 了 ，那 我们 走 吧 。Yǔ tíng le, nà wǒmen zǒu ba.The rain stopped. Shall we go?
• 大家 都 到 了 ，那么 我们 开始 吧 。Dàjiā dōu dào le, nàme wǒmen kāishǐ ba.Everybody is here, so let's begin.
• 你 认为 这个 办法 不行 ，那 你 有 别的 办法 吗 ？Nǐ rènwéi zhège bànfǎ bù xíng , nà nǐ yǒu bié de bànfǎ ma?You don't think this idea is good. So have you got any other good idea?
• 他 学 过 十 年 中文 ？那 他 的 中文 说 得 很 好 吧 ？Tā xué guo shí nián Zhōngwén? Nà tā de Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo ba?He's studied Chinese for ten years? He must speak Chinese very well?
• 他 表现 不错 ，那么 让 他 通过 吧 。Tā biǎoxiàn bùcuò, nàme ràng tā tōngguò ba.He performed well, so let him pass.
• 客户 确认 了 明天 的 会议 时间 ，那么 你 快点 去 安排 吧 。Kèhù quèrèn le míngtiān de huìyì shíjiān, nàme nǐ kuài diǎn qù ānpái ba.The rain is too heavy, so you should all stay here for tonight.
• 他们 没有 提前 通知 我们 ，那么 这 是 他们 的 责任 。Tāmen méiyǒu tíqián tōngzhī wǒmen, nàme zhè shì tāmen de zérèn.They did't let us know in advance. Then they should be responsible for this.
• 实现 这个 目标 应该 不 难 ，那么 我们 一起 努力 吧 。Shíxiàn zhège mùbiāo yīnggāi bù nán, nàme wǒmen yīqǐ nǔlì ba.It shouldn't be difficult to reach this goal. Let's make an effort.

See also

• Explaining results with "suoyi"
• Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 104-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 51-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 122) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy