Meanings of 那
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About 那
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Podcast: 那
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AI Study Notes for 那
那 (nà) vs. 这 (zhè) — use 那 for referring to something farther away, while 这 indicates something closer.
Common mistakes include confusing '那' (nà) with '哪' (nǎ), which means 'which' or 'where'. While '那' is generally informal, it can appear in formal contexts. Be mindful of its pronunciation, as misplacing the tones can alter meaning.
As an HSK Level 1 word, '那' is foundational for understanding demonstratives in Mandarin. Students should practice its use in simple sentences and familiarize themselves with related words like '这' (zhè - this).
Learners often confuse '那' with '哪', leading to incorrect phrases like '你是哪?' (nǐ shì nǎ?) instead of the correct '你是那?' (nǐ shì nà?) for 'You are that one?'. Pay attention to the context to avoid such errors.
Pronunciation of 那
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Etymology of 那
Phonosemantic compound. ⻏ represents the meaning and 冄 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "name of a city", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.
Origin
What kind of character is 那?
Decomposition of 那
Parts
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How to say that in Chinese
“that” in Chinese is那
The character '那' (nà) is commonly used to mean 'that' or 'those' in Mandarin. It serves as a demonstrative pronoun to refer to something farther away from the speaker. Additionally, it can indicate a transition in conversation, often translated as 'then' or 'in that case'.
When to use 那
Common mistakes include confusing '那' (nà) with '哪' (nǎ), which means 'which' or 'where'. While '那' is generally informal, it can appear in formal contexts. Be mindful of its pronunciation, as misplacing the tones can alter meaning.
那 or something close to it
那 (nà) vs. 这 (zhè) — use 那 for referring to something farther away, while 这 indicates something closer.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '那' with '哪', leading to incorrect phrases like '你是哪?' (nǐ shì nǎ?) instead of the correct '你是那?' (nǐ shì nà?) for 'You are that one?'. Pay attention to the context to avoid such errors.
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Practice writing 那 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 那
那 carries 13 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____个人是谁？
Who is that person?
Common Confusions with 那
Similar pronunciation and meaning as question words.
Which one
Which one means “that”?
Usage Notes for 那
Many learners mistakenly pronounce '那' as 'nèi'. The standard pronunciation is 'nà'.
我想要那本书。
I want that book.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我想要____本书。
I want that book.
Example Sentences for 那 (16)
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Cultural Notes for 那
'那' is commonly used in everyday conversation in Chinese to refer to things that are not close to the speaker, highlighting the importance of spatial awareness in the language.
In Chinese culture, the concept of distance is not just physical but also relates to emotional and social contexts, which is reflected in the use of demonstrative pronouns like '那'.
Word Family of 那
Characters with 那
What does 哪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 那
那 and 哪 are not interchangeable, although they look similar. 那 (nà) means 'that,' while 哪 (nǎ) means 'which.' They serve different functions in sentences, with 哪 often used in questions to ask for specific choices.
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