Demonstrative Pronouns in Chinese
這 [这] (zhè) and 那 (nà), which are literally translated as this and that respectively, are demonstrative pronouns in Chinese. In general, we use demonstrative pronouns + 是 (shì) and followed by nouns to point out something or someone.
| Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin | English |
| 這 | 这 | zhè | This |
| 那 | 那 | nà | That |
Examples:
這是你的零用錢。
这是你的零用钱。
Zhè shì nǐ de língyòng qián.
This is your pocket money.
那是她的包。
那是她的包。
Nà shì tā de bāo.
That is her bag.
Read: The Complete Guide of Pronouns in Chinese
We form plural demonstrative pronouns by adding the suffix 些 (xiē) behind 這 [这] (zhè) or 那 (nà).
| Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin | English |
| 這些 | 这些 | zhè xiē | These |
| 那些 | 那些 | nà xiē | Those |
Examples:
這些都很好。
这些都很好。
Zhèxiē dōu hěn hǎo.
These are all very good.
那些衣服穿起来都很舒服。
那些衣服穿起來都很舒服。
Nàxiē yīfú chuān qǐlái dōu hěn shūfú.
Those clothes are very comfortable to wear.
這 [这] (zhè) and 那 (nà) can also be followed by measure words before nouns. If the nouns are plural, insert the number before the measure words.
| Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin | English |
| 這個 | 这个 | zhè ge | This (general) |
| 那個 | 那个 | nà ge | That (general) |
| 這間 | 这间 | zhè jiān | This (room) |
| 那间 | 那间 | nà jiān | That (room) |
| 這雙 | 这双 | zhè shuāng | This (pair) |
| 那雙 | 那双 | nà shuāng | That (pair) |
| 這封 | 这封 | zhè fēng | This (written document) |
| 那封 | 那封 | nà fēng | That (written document) |
Examples:
那個人好溫柔。
那个人好温柔。
Nàgè rén hǎo wēnróu.
That person is very gentle.
這間房間好冷。
这间房间好冷。
Zhè jiān fángjiān hǎo lěng.
This room is very cold.
我想買全部那三雙鞋。
我想买全部那三双鞋。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi quánbù nà sān shuāng xié.
I want to buy all those three pairs of shoes.
請幫我把這兩封信寄出去。
请帮我把这两封信寄出去。
Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ zhè liǎng fēng xìn jì chūqù.
Please help me to send these two pieces of letters.
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