Adjectives with "name" and "zheme"
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Level
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Keywords
In English, the words "that" and "so" are often used to increase the extent of an adjective (ex. "he is so tall" or "this food is so good"). In Chinese, 那么 (nàme) and 这么 (zhème) serve the same function.
Contents
Structure
All you have to do to use this grammar structure is put the 那么 or 这么 in front of the adjective.
Subj. + 那么 / 这么 + Adj.
Examples
- 你 说得 这么 快，我 怎么 能 听懂？You speak so fast. How could I understand you?
- 你 怎么 变得 这么 漂亮！How did you become so beautiful!
- 你 那么 有钱 ，为什么 还 要 工作 ？You are so rich. Why are you still working?
- 雨 这么 大，明天 再 去 吧。It's raining so heavily. How about we go tomorrow?
- 中国人口 这么 多 ，当然 会 有 很 多 社会 问题。China has such a big population. Of course there will be many social problems.
When to use which one
You might be thinking 那 and 这 have different meanings. How can they be used the same way?" Well, there are some differences. "这么" is used when the thing you are talking about is close by, when you would say "this" or "这个." On the other hand, if the object is far away, you would use "那么." Furthermore, this distance doesn't have to be physical, it can also refer to time, so you would use "那么" with things like "yesterday" or "tomorrow".
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 15) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 71 - 2) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) →buy
