Difference between revisions of "Measure words with "this" and "that""

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* <em>那</em> <strong>个</strong> 人 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>gè</strong> rén</span><span class="trans">that person</span>
 
* <em>那</em> <strong>个</strong> 人 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>gè</strong> rén</span><span class="trans">that person</span>
 
* <em>这</em> <strong>本</strong> 书 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>běn</strong> shū</span><span class="trans">this book</span>
 
* <em>这</em> <strong>本</strong> 书 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>běn</strong> shū</span><span class="trans">this book</span>
* <em>那</em> <strong>件</strong> 事 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>jiàn</strong> shì</span><span class="trans">that matter (in the sense of business, affair, or thing).</span>
+
* <em>那</em> <strong>件</strong> 事 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>jiàn</strong> shì</span><span class="trans">that matter (in the sense of business, affair, or thing)</span>
 
* <em>这</em> <strong>瓶</strong> 啤酒 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>píng</strong> píjiǔ</span><span class="trans">this bottle of beer</span>
 
* <em>这</em> <strong>瓶</strong> 啤酒 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>píng</strong> píjiǔ</span><span class="trans">this bottle of beer</span>
 
* <em>那</em> <strong>个</strong> 房间 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>gè</strong> fángjiān</span><span class="trans">that room</span>
 
* <em>那</em> <strong>个</strong> 房间 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>gè</strong> fángjiān</span><span class="trans">that room</span>

Revision as of 01:45, 17 March 2016

In English, when you refer to "that girl" or "this table" 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 (ge) 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 need to include a measure word (MW).

这 / 那 + measure word + Noun

Examples

  • rénthat person
  • zhè běn shūthis book
  • jiàn shìthat matter (in the sense of business, affair, or thing)
  • 啤酒 zhè píng píjiǔthis bottle of beer
  • 房间 fángjiānthat room
  • 旧 手机 zhè jiù shǒujīthis old cell phone
  • 新 电脑 tái xīn diànnǎothat new computer
  • 小猫 zhè zhī xiǎo māothat small cat
  • zuò shānthat mountain
  • 爱情 电影zhè àiqíng diànyǐngthis love movie


See also

Sources and further reading

Books