Chinese Conversation · Level 10
90 words
Chinese word
那个
Pronunciation
Pinyinnà ge
Meaning
- pronounthat
Example
那个问题很重要。nà ge wèn tí hěn zhòng yào
That problem is very important.
More examples
那个人很友好。nà ge rén hěn yóu hǎo
That person is very friendly.
Core concept
A flexible pointer to one person or thing that can also give the speaker a moment to find the next words.
Common phrases
那个问题nà ge wèn tí
that problem
那个人nà ge rén
that person
那个时候nà ge shí hòu
at that time
Similar words
那nà: A pointer for a person or thing at some distance from the speaker.
这个zhè ge: A pointer for a person or thing near the speaker.
哪个nǎ ge: A question word used to ask which person or thing among several is meant.
Definition in Chinese
作为通用代词，和量词“个”结合表示泛指或特指的某一人或事物，既可和名词连用，也可单独替代名词。zuò wéi tōng yòng dài cí hé liàng cí gè jié hé biǎo shì fàn zhǐ huò tè zhǐ de mǒu yì rén huò shì wù jì kě hé míng cí lián yòng yě kě dān dú tì dài míng cí
Word origin
那个 (nàge, "that one") combines 那 (nà, "that") with 个 (gè, "general classifier"), joining a demonstrative with a broad classifier to make a standalone reference that also developed a hesitation use.
Usage tips
- Like English "um," this word can appear while a speaker searches for words, so the surrounding sentence shows whether it refers to something or marks hesitation.
Other meanings
- that onepronoun
- uminterjection
Opposites
- 这个zhè gethispronoun