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

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* <em>这</em> <strong>只</strong> 小猫 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>zhī</strong> xiǎo māo</span><span class="trans">that small cat</span>
 
* <em>这</em> <strong>只</strong> 小猫 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>zhī</strong> xiǎo māo</span><span class="trans">that small cat</span>
 
* <em>那</em> <strong>条</strong> 河 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>tiáo</strong> hé </span><span class="trans">that river</span>
 
* <em>那</em> <strong>条</strong> 河 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>tiáo</strong> hé </span><span class="trans">that river</span>
* <em>这</em> 件 <strong></strong> 衣服 <span class="pinyin"><em>zhè</em> <strong>jiàn</strong> yīfu </span><span class="trans">this piece of clothes</span>
+
* <em>这</em> 件 <strong></strong> 衣服 <span class="pinyin"><em>zhè</em> <strong>jiàn</strong> yīfu </span><span class="trans">this piece of clothing</span>
  
  

Revision as of 03:19, 12 January 2017

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 (Measure Word).

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.

  • ge 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 ge fángjiānthat room
  • 旧 手机 zhè ge jiù shǒujīthis old cell phone
  • 新 电脑 tái xīn diànnǎothat new computer
  • 小猫 zhè zhī xiǎo māothat small cat
  • tiáothat river
  • 衣服 zhè jiàn yīfu this piece of clothing


See also

Sources and further reading

Books