Meanings of 那
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 那
Podcast: 那
Podcast: 那
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Drill the tone of 那 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
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.
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 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.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 那? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 那?
Decomposition of 那
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 那?
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.
Write 那
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
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.
Complete the Sentence
____个人是谁？
Who is that person?
Common Confusions with 那
Similar pronunciation and meaning as question words.
Spot the Difference
Which character 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.
Fill in the Blank
我想要____本书。
I want that book.
Example Sentences for 那 (16)
Reorder the Sentence
Whose book is that?
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
Compound Meaning
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.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 那?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.