Difference between revisions of "The filler word "neige""

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\nSometimes when speaking you may blank out a bit, forget a little word or phrase, and you need something to say while gathering your thoughts. Or maybe you need to stall for a while. Well, the word 那个(nèige) is just what you need.\r\n== Basic patterns ==\r\nIn English, words like "uhm" and "er" are used as filler<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) Filler (linguistics)] on Wikipedia</ref> words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is used for this purpose. This can sound a bit unfortunate<ref>See [http://mandarinhood.blogspot.com/2010/12/this-or-that-mandarin-and-n-word.html This or That? Mandarin and the "N" word] for elaboration</ref> to English speakers, but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.\r\n那个 can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "like" in English, or filler words in general.\r\n== Examples ==\r\nSome examples:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <em>那个</em>...我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了,好 吗?<span class="trans">So. . .uhm, I won't eat with you guys, OK?</span>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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Sometimes when speaking you may blank out a bit, forget a little word or phrase, and you need something to say while gathering your thoughts. Or maybe you need to stall for a while. Well, the word 那个(nèige) is just what you need.
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== Basic patterns ==
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In English, words like "uhm" and "er" are used as filler<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) Filler (linguistics)] on Wikipedia</ref> words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is used for this purpose. This can sound a bit unfortunate<ref>See [http://mandarinhood.blogspot.com/2010/12/this-or-that-mandarin-and-n-word.html This or That? Mandarin and the "N" word] for elaboration</ref> to English speakers, but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.
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那个 can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "like" in English, or filler words in general.
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 +
== Examples ==
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Some examples:
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<div class="liju">
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* <em>那个</em>...我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了,好 吗?<span class="trans">So. . .uhm, I won't eat with you guys, OK?</span>
 
* 我 想 吃 <em>那个</em>... <em>那个</em>...湖南 菜。<span class="trans">I want to eat that. . .uhm. . .whatchamacallit. . .Hunan cuisine.</span>
 
* 我 想 吃 <em>那个</em>... <em>那个</em>...湖南 菜。<span class="trans">I want to eat that. . .uhm. . .whatchamacallit. . .Hunan cuisine.</span>
 
* <em>那个</em>...我明天可能晚点儿到公司。<span class="trans">Uhm...I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.</span>
 
* <em>那个</em>...我明天可能晚点儿到公司。<span class="trans">Uhm...I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.</span>
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* <em>那个</em>...不好意思,我 先 走 了。
 
* <em>那个</em>...不好意思,我 先 走 了。
 
* 她 很 漂亮,就 像 <em>那个</em>...八 十 年代 的 电影 明星 一样。
 
* 她 很 漂亮,就 像 <em>那个</em>...八 十 年代 的 电影 明星 一样。
* <em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗?\r\n</div>\r\n== References ==\r\n<references/>\r\n== Further reading ==\r\n'''Needs academic references!'''\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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* <em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗?
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</div>
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== References ==
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<references/>
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== Further reading ==
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'''Needs academic references!'''
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|那个|A2|……那个……|<em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗?|grammar point|ASG8VJM8}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|那个|A2|……那个……|<em>那个</em>...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗?|grammar point|ASG8VJM8}}
 
{{Rel char|那}}
 
{{Rel char|那}}

Revision as of 08:47, 26 November 2013

Chinese-grammar-wiki-ge (1).jpg

Sometimes when speaking you may blank out a bit, forget a little word or phrase, and you need something to say while gathering your thoughts. Or maybe you need to stall for a while. Well, the word 那个(nèige) is just what you need.

Basic patterns

In English, words like "uhm" and "er" are used as filler[1] words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is used for this purpose. This can sound a bit unfortunate[2] to English speakers, but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.

那个 can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the slang use of "like" in English, or filler words in general.

Examples

Some examples:

  • 那个...我 不 和 你们一起 吃饭 了,好 吗?So. . .uhm, I won't eat with you guys, OK?
  • 我 想 吃 那个... 那个...湖南 菜。I want to eat that. . .uhm. . .whatchamacallit. . .Hunan cuisine.
  • 那个...我明天可能晚点儿到公司。Uhm...I might be a little bit late for work tomorrow.
  • 我 想 看 看 你 刚 买 的 那个···那个···iphone。I‘d like to have a look at ···uhm···your iphone you just bought.
  • 那个...我得去机场接我的朋友了。Uhm...I”ve got to go o the airport to pick up my friends.
  • 昨天那个···那个···小笼包真好吃。The ···uhm···steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.
  • 我 觉得,那个...这样 做 是 不 是 不 好 啊?
  • 那个...不好意思,我 先 走 了。
  • 她 很 漂亮,就 像 那个...八 十 年代 的 电影 明星 一样。
  • 那个...你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗?

References

Further reading

Needs academic references!