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

Latest revision as of 08:54, 21 April 2021

Level

A2 / HSK2
Level

A2
Level

HSK2
Similar to
Similar to
Used for

Connecting ideas
Keywords

个, 那个, 那

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 "uhhh" 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 words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is also used for this purpose. To English speakers not fortunate enough to be fluent in Mandarin this may raise an eyebrow because it can sound a bit "racist," 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.

Examples

那个 ⋯⋯ 我不跟你们一起去了，可以吗？Nèige... wǒ bù gēn nǐmen yīqǐ qù le, kěyǐ ma? So, ummm... I won't go 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 ⋯⋯ 我明天不来了。Nèige... wǒ míngtiān bù lái le.Ummm... I'm not coming tomorrow.
那个 ⋯⋯ 这样做不好吧？Nèige... zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo ba?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 nǚpéngyou ma?Like... could you be my girlfriend?
那个 ⋯⋯ 不好意思，我要走了。Nèige... bù hǎoyìsi, 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.
我想看看你买的那个 ⋯⋯ 那个 ⋯⋯ iPhone。Wǒ xiǎng kànkan nǐ mǎi de nèige... nèige... iPhone.I'd like to take a look at your, ummm, you know... iPhone you bought.
那个 ⋯⋯ 我要去开会了。Nèige... wǒ yào 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.

Sources and further reading

Wikipedia: Filler words (linguistics)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Grammar Box}} \r\nSometimes 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.\r\n== Basic patterns ==\r\nIn 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.\r\n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.\r\n== Examples ==\r\nSome examples:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <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>
+{{Grammar Box}}
-* 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>
-* <em>那个</em>...我明天可能晚点儿到公司。<span class="trans">Uhm...I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.</span>
+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 "uhhh" 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.)
-* 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>...我得去机场接我的朋友了。<span class="trans">Uhm...I”ve got to go o the airport to pick up my friends.</span>
+== Structure ==
-* 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>
-* 我 觉得，<em>那个</em>...这样 做 是 不 是 不 好 啊？
+In English, words like "ummm" and "uh" are used as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) filler words] when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is also used for this purpose. To English speakers not fortunate enough to be fluent in Mandarin this may raise an eyebrow because it can sound a bit "racist," but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.
-* <em>那个</em>...不好意思，我 先 走 了。
-* 她 很 漂亮，就 像 <em>那个</em>...八 十 年代 的 电影 明星 一样。
+<div class="jiegou">
-* <em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗？\r\n</div>\r\n== References ==\r\n<references/>\r\n== Further reading ==\r\n'''Needs academic references!'''\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
-{{Basic Grammar|那个|A2|……那个……|<em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗？|grammar point|ASG8VJM8}}
+(那个⋯⋯) (那个⋯⋯) + [anything] + (那个⋯⋯)
+</div>
+那个 (nèige) can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought.
+== Examples ==
+<div class="liju">
+* <em>那个</em> ⋯⋯ 我 不 跟 你们 一起 去 了，可以 吗？<span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em>... wǒ bù   gēn nǐmen yīqǐ qù le, kěyǐ ma? </span><span class="trans">So, ummm... I won't go 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>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 不 来 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em>... wǒ míngtiān bù lái le.</span><span class="trans">Ummm... I'm not coming tomorrow.</span>
+* <em>那个</em> ⋯⋯ 这样 做 不 好 吧？<span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em>... zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo ba?</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>Nèige</em>... nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚpéngyou 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>Nèige</em>... bù hǎoyìsi, 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>nèige</em>... míngxīng yīyàng.</span><span class="trans">She's very pretty, just like, you know, a celebrity.</span>
+* 我 想 看看 你 买 的 <em>那个</em> ⋯⋯ <em>那个</em> ⋯⋯ iPhone。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng kànkan nǐ mǎi de <em>nèige</em>... <em>nèige</em>... iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to take a look at your, ummm, you know... iPhone you bought.</span>
+* <em>那个</em> ⋯⋯ 我 要 去 开会 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nèige</em>... wǒ yào 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>nèige</em>... <em>nèige</em>... xiǎolóngbāo zhēn hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.</span>
+</div>
+== Sources and further reading ==
+* Wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) Filler words (linguistics)]
+[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
+{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
+{{Basic Grammar|那个|A2|⋯⋯那个⋯⋯|<em>那个</em>⋯⋯你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗？|grammar point|ASG8VJM8}}
 {{Rel char|那}}
 {{Rel char|个}}
 {{POS|Conjunctions}}
 {{Used for|Connecting ideas}}
+{{Translation|ummm}}
+{{Translation|uh}}
+{{Translation|well}}