Name-calling with "zhege"

这个 (zhège) can be used by the speaker to emphasize how one regards something or someone. Using 这个 has a stronger effect, and is used with both making simple declarative statements as well as with rude name-calling.

Zhege 这个

Structure

Subj. + 这个 + [Category]

When maliciously name-calling, you probably want to use "你这个 [mean name]."

Examples

• 你 这个 坏蛋，就 没 做 过 一 件 好 事。Nǐ zhège huàidàn, jiù méi zuò guo yī jiàn hǎoshì.You're such a bad person! You haven't done a single good thing.
• 他 这个 马屁精，又 去 拍 老板 的 马屁 了。Tā zhège mǎpìjīng, yòu qù pāi lǎobǎn de mǎ pìle.He's such a brown-noser. He's kissing up to the boss again.
• 上海 这个 城市，夏天 太 热，冬天 太 冷。Shànghǎi zhège chéngshì, xiàtiān tài rè, dōngtiān tài lěng.As for Shanghai, its summers are too hot and its winters are too cold.
• 你 这个 人，怎么 能 做出 这样 的 事情？Nǐ zhège rén, zěnme néng zuò chū zhèyàng de shìqing?What kind of person are you? How could you do this?
• 他 这个 工作，还是 很 有 挑战 的。Tā zhège gōngzuò, háishì hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn de.This job of his still has a lot of challenges.

Similar pattern with 这种 and 这类

As 个 is a measure word it can be replaced by other measure words in this structure. Often it is replaced with 种 or 类. In this usage, it's not used for name-calling.

Structure

Subj. + 这种 / 这类 + [Category]

Examples

• 猕猴桃 这种 水果，营养 价值 最 高。Míhóutáo zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ, yíngyǎng jiàzhí zuìgāo.This fruit we call kiwifruit has a high nutritional value.
• 钱 这种 东西，可以 有 可以 没有。Qián zhè zhǒng dōngxī, kěyǐ yǒu kěyǐ méiyǒu.This thing we call money, I could take it or leave it.
• 猴子 这种 动物，很 聪明 的。Hóuzi zhè zhǒng dòngwù, hěn cōngming de.This animals we call the monkey is very intelligent.
• 游泳 这种 运动，需要 你 长期 坚持。Yóuyǒng zhè zhǒng yùndòng, xūyào nǐ chángqí jiānchí.Swimming is the kind of exercise that requires long-term persistence.
• 抽奖 这种 活动 ，都是 骗人 的。Chōujiǎng zhè zhǒng huódòng, dōu shì piàn rén de.Raffles and the like are all scams.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Exemplification of Common Sentence Patterns in Spoken Chinese 汉语口语常用句式例解 (pp. 200-201) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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