Adjectives with "name" and "zheme"

Level

B1 / HSK3
Level

B1
Level

HSK3
Similar to
- Simple "noun + adjective" sentences (A1)
- Expressing "really" with "zhen" (A2)
- Intensifying with "duo" (A2)
- Superlative "zui" (A2)
- Adjectives with "-ji le" (B1)
Similar to
- Simple "noun + adjective" sentences (HSK1)
- Expressing "really" with "zhen" (HSK2)
- Superlative "zui" (HSK2)
- Adjectives with "-ji le" (HSK3)
- Intensifying with "duo" (HSK3)
Used for

Describing things, Adding more explanation, Expressing attitude
Keywords

这么, 那么, 那, 这

In English, the words "that" and "so" are often used to emphasize the degree of an adjective (ex. "he is so tall" or "the food is so good"). In Chinese, 那么 (nàme) and 这么 (zhème) serve the same function.

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

You could think of 这么 as "this" or "so," and 那么 as "that" or "so."

他说得这么快，你们听得懂吗？Tā shuō de zhème kuài, nǐmen tīng de dǒng ma?He speaks so fast. Can you guys understand?
我没想到这个考试这么难。Wǒ méi xiǎng dào zhège kǎoshì zhème nán.I didn't expect this exam would be this difficult.
雨这么大，明天再去吧。Yǔ zhème dà, míngtiān zài qù ba.The rain is so heavy. How about we go tomorrow?
你那么聪明，一定能猜到。Nǐ nàme cōngming, yīdìng néng cāi dào.You're so smart. You can definitely guess it.
老板那么忙，肯定没时间。Lǎobǎn nàme máng, kěndìng méi shíjiān.The boss is so busy. He definitely won't have time for this.
今天怎么这么冷？Jīntiān zěnme zhème lěng?Why is it so cold today?
你怎么这么没礼貌？Nǐ zěnme zhème méi lǐmào?How can you be this impolite?
这个外国人怎么会了解那么多中国历史？Zhège wàiguórén zěnme huì liǎojiě nàme duō Zhōngguó lìshǐ?How could this foreigner know that much about Chinese history?
中国人口这么多，当然会有很多社会问题。Zhōngguó rénkǒu zhème duō, dāngrán huì yǒu hěn duō shèhuì wèntí.China has such a big population. Of course there will be many social problems.
科技那么发达，什么都是有可能的。Kējì nàme fādá, shénme dōu shì yǒu kěnéng de.Science and technology is so developed. Anything is possible.

When to use which one

You might be thinking that since 这 ("this") and 那 ("that") have totally different meanings, how could they be used in an essentially interchangeable way? Well, there are some differences. 这么 is used when the subject is close by (either in space or in time), when you would say "this" or 这个. On the other hand, if the subject is far away (or in the past), you would likely use 那么.

Sources and further reading

Books