1 · Nouns, numbers and measure words
This, that and which: zhè, nà and nǎ
pointing words and the question word for which
Zhè and nà point, nǎ asks — and before a noun all three want a measure word.
这 is “this”, 那 is “that” and 哪 is “which?”. Before a noun they behave like a number and take a measure word: 这本书, this book, 那位老师, that teacher, 哪件衣服, which piece of clothing. With the general measure word they make the everyday words 这个, 那个 and 哪个. 那 and 哪 are written alike and differ only in tone: the falling one points, the dipping one asks.
A number fits between the pointing word and the measure word: 这三本书, these three books. Without a number, the plural is made with 些, “some”: 这些, 那些, 哪些. 些 is itself a measure word, so no other one is needed: 这些书, these books.
As the subject of 是, “this” and “that” can stand alone: 这是我的书, this is my book. Everywhere else they need their measure word, even without a noun: “I want this” is 我要这个. The same three words name places with an -r ending or with 里: 这儿 here, 那儿 there, and 哪儿 where — the tone again telling “there” from “where”.
English speakers make two mistakes here. The first is leaving out the measure word, because “this book” has none in English. The second is the tone: 那儿 said with a dipping tone becomes the question 哪儿, and a statement turns into “where?”.
The form
| this + measure word + noun | 这本书 |
| that one | 那个 |
| which one? | 哪件衣服？ |
| these three | 这三本书 |
| these, those, which ones | 这些、那些、哪些 |
| here, there, where | 这儿、那儿、哪儿 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
Before a noun, 这, 那 and 哪 take a measure word.
那张桌子是新的。That table is new.
A number goes between the pointing word and the measure word.
这两个人是我的同学。These two people are my classmates.
些 makes a plural and needs no other measure word.
这些苹果很甜。These apples are very sweet.
Before 是, “this” and “that” can stand alone.
这是我妈妈。This is my mother.
哪, with the dipping tone, asks; 那, with the falling tone, points.
你喜欢哪本书？Which book do you like?
A closer look
Zhèi and nèi
In everyday speech, especially in the north, many people say zhèi, nèi and něi before a measure word: 这个 is often heard as zhèige, 那个 as nèige. These forms grew out of “this one” and “that one” run together. The characters do not change, and either pronunciation is fine; this site writes the standard reading.
The place words come in two sets. 这儿, 那儿 and 哪儿 are the spoken forms of the north; 这里, 那里 and 哪里 mean the same and are used everywhere, in speech and in writing. Learn both sets; you will hear and read both.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the noun is itself a unit, like 天, 年 or 国
no measure word is needed: 这天, 那年, 哪国人.
那年我十八岁。I was eighteen that year.
These nouns count themselves, just as in 三天.
How to spot it
- 这
- 那
- 哪
- 这些
- 哪儿
Example sentences
这个多少钱？How much is this one?
那位先生是谁？Who is that gentleman?
你要哪个？Which one do you want?
那些人在等车。Those people are waiting for the bus.
我的手机在哪儿？Where's my phone?
这三本书都是我的。These three books are all mine.
8 more example sentences
那家咖啡馆很安静。That café is very quiet.
这儿有人吗？Is anyone sitting here?
我不喜欢这种颜色。I don't like this colour.
哪些菜是辣的？Which dishes are spicy?
那是我们的学校。That's our school.
我在那儿等你。I'll wait for you there.
这件事你别告诉他。Don't tell him about this.
那两位是新来的老师。Those two are the new teachers.
Worth knowing (1)
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Nà at the start: “then”
At the very beginning of a sentence, 那 often points back at what the other person has just said and means “in that case”. It takes no measure word here, because it points at a whole situation, not at a thing.
那我们明天见吧。Then let's meet tomorrow.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English “I want this” has no noun and no measure word. In Chinese, 这 alone works only as the subject of 是; as the object of a verb it needs its measure word, and the measure word stands for the noun you left out.
Zhè, nà and nǎ work like a number: measure word next, then the noun.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.