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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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 [[Measure_word_%22ge%22|个 (ge)]] for everything, but pretty soon you're going to have to start using other measure words in these simple phrases.
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In English, when you refer to "this table" or "that girl" 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 [[Measure_word_%22ge%22|个 ()]] for everything, but pretty soon you're going to have to start using other measure words in these simple phrases.
  
=== Structure ===
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== Structure ==
  
If you use 这 (zhè) or 那 (nà) before a noun, you need to include a [[measure word]] (MW).
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If you use 这 (zhè) or 那 (nà) before a noun, you also need to include a [[measure word]] before the noun.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
这 / 那 + MW + Noun
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这 / 那 + Measure Word + Noun
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
 +
 
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Note: In this usage, the tone of 个 (gè) tends to soften, so it's represented below as a neutral tone.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>那</em> <strong>个</strong> 人 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong></strong> rén</span><span class="trans">that person</span>
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* <em>那</em> <strong>个</strong> 人 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em><strong>ge</strong> rén</span><span class="trans">that person</span>
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* <em>这</em> <strong>本</strong> 书 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>běn</strong> shū</span><span class="trans">this book</span>
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* <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></strong> 巧克力 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>kuài</strong> qiǎokèlì</span><span class="trans">that piece of chocolate</span>
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* <em>那</em> <strong></strong> 房间 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em><strong>ge</strong> fángjiān</span><span class="trans">that room</span>
* <em></em> <strong></strong> 桌子 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>zhāng</strong> zhuōzi</span><span class="trans">this table</span>
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* <em></em> <strong></strong> 电脑 <span class="pinyin"> <em></em> <strong>tái</strong> diànnǎo</span><span class="trans">that new computer</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>
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* <em>这</em> <strong>只</strong> <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>zhī</strong> māo</span><span class="trans">that cat</span>
* <em>这</em> <strong>个</strong> 手机 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>gè</strong> shǒujī</span><span class="trans">this cell phone</span>
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* <em>那</em> <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>tiáo</strong> </span><span class="trans">that river</span>
* <em>这</em> <strong>只</strong> 小 狗 <span class="pinyin"> <em>zhè</em> <strong>zhī</strong> xiǎo gǒu</span><span class="trans">this small dog</span>
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* <em></em> <strong></strong> 衣服 <span class="pinyin"><em>zhè</em> <strong>jiàn</strong> yīfu </span><span class="trans">this piece of clothing</span>
* <em>那</em> <strong>只</strong> 小 猫 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>zhī</strong> xiǎo māo</span><span class="trans">that small cat</span>
 
* <em>那</em> <strong></strong> 咖啡 <span class="pinyin"> <em>nà</em> <strong>bēi</strong> kāfēi</span><span class="trans">that cup of coffee</span>
 
* <em></em> <strong></strong> <span class="pinyin"> <em></em> <strong>tiáo</strong> </span><span class="trans">that fish</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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 +
Although we didn't get into it here, the same pattern holds true when you use 哪 (nǎ) to ask "which?"
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 33) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|33}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Measure words]]
 
[[Category:Measure words]]
{{Basic Grammar|这|A2|这 / 那 + MW (+ N)|那 <em>个</em> 人。这 <em>杯</em> 水。|grammar point|ASGZC42B}}
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{{Basic Grammar|这|A2|这 / 那 + Measure Word (+ Noun)|那 <em>个</em> 人。这 <em>杯</em> 水。|grammar point|ASGZC42B}}
 
{{Rel char|那}}
 
{{Rel char|那}}
 
{{Similar|"Some" Using "yixie"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Some" Using "yixie"}}   

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

In English, when you refer to "this table" or "that girl" 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 (gè) 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 also need to include a measure word before the noun.

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
  • 电脑 tái diànnǎothat new computer
  • zhè zhī māothat cat
  • tiáothat river
  • 衣服 zhè jiàn yīfu this piece of clothing

Although we didn't get into it here, the same pattern holds true when you use 哪 (nǎ) to ask "which?"

See also

Sources and further reading

Books