Measure words with "this" and "that"

In English, when you refer to "this table" or "that girl" 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 (gè) 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 also need to include a measure word before the noun.

这 / 那 + Measure Word + Noun

Examples

Note: In this usage, the tone of 个 (gè) tends to soften, so it's represented below as a neutral tone.

• 那 个 人 nàge rénthat person
• 这 本 书 zhè běn shūthis book
• 那 件 事 nà jiàn shìthat matter (in the sense of business, affair, or thing)
• 这 瓶 啤酒 zhè píng píjiǔthis bottle of beer
• 那 个 房间 nàge fángjiānthat room
• 那 台 电脑 nà tái diànnǎothat new computer
• 这 只 猫 zhè zhī māothat cat
• 那 条 河 nà tiáo hé that river
• 这 件 衣服 zhè jiàn yīfu this piece of clothing

Although we didn't get into it here, the same pattern holds true when you use 哪 (nǎ) to ask "which?"

See also

• "Some" Using "yixie"
• Measure words in quantity questions
• Measure Words for Verbs

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 33) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy