Let`s discover the difference between Chinese words 这么 and 那么 ！It`s important for HSK students or Mandarin Chinese beginners to handle the difference ! In the rich tapestry of Mandarin Chinese, the selection of words carries profound implications for expressing degrees of intensity or extent. Two commonly used adverbs, 这么 (zhème) and 那么 (nàme), offer nuanced ways to convey the magnitude of a situation. Now we invite you to join us on this linguistic adventure.
Both "这么" and "那么" serve to indicate degrees of intensity or extent. "这么" typically emphasizes proximity to the speaker, while "那么" often highlights proximity to the listener or distance from the speaker. Please look at some examples for better understanding about these two words
1--这么zhème
Proximity-Based Intensity: 这么 typically denotes "this much" or "so much" and is used to indicate the degree or extent of something close to the speaker.
Examples: "这么多人来参加了会议。" (Zhème duō rén lái cānjiāle huìyì.) - "So many people came to the meeting."
“这么好吃的蛋糕，你是在哪买的啊？”(Zhème hǎochī de dàngāo, nǐ shì zài nǎ mǎi de a?)-“Where did you buy such a delicious cake?”
Speaker-Centric Perspective: 这么 emphasizes the speaker's viewpoint and relates to situations or objects that are near or directly experienced by the speaker.
It can also indicate a degree of intensity, often used to express emphasis or surprise.
Examples: "这么快就到了？！" (Zhème kuài jiù dàole!) - "So fast, already arrived!"
Example “怎么来得这么突然啊？“(Zěnme lái de zhème tūrán a?)- "How did you come so suddenly?"
Example: "这么大的雨"！ (zhème dà de yǔ) means "such heavy rain."
2. 那么(nàme):
Listener- Centric Intensity: 那么 typically denotes "that much" or "so much" and is used to indicate the degree or extent of something close to the listener or at a distance from the speaker.
Examples: "那么多麻烦，你能做得到吗？" (Nàme duō máfan, nǐ néng zuò dé dào ma?) - "With so much trouble, can you do it?"
“那么大的箱子，搬的动吗？”（"Nàme dà de xiāngzi, bān de dòng ma?"）-Can you move such a big box?"
Distance-Driven Perspective: 那么 highlights the listener's viewpoint and relates to situations or objects that are distant from the speaker but close to the listener.
Example: "那么贵的衣服，你买得起吗？" (Nàme guì de yīfú, nǐ mǎi dé qǐ ma?) - "With clothes so expensive, can you afford them?"
Compare
这么 | 那么？ |
"这么多人来参加了会议。 Zhème duō rén lái cānjiā le huìyì. "So many people came to attend the meeting." | "那么多人来参加了会议。 Nàme duō rén lái cānjiā le huìyì. "So many people came to attend the meeting." |
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”这么贵的衣服？” Zhème guì de yīfu? "Such expensive clothes?" | “那么贵的衣服？“ Nàme guì de yīfu. "So expensive clothes." |
| ”那么" (nàme) indicates something that is more distant in space or time, or less directly related to the speaker or the current situation.
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- When you can use Chinese word- 这么 but cannot use 那么？
那么 can be used as a preposition. Additionally, '那么' has another usage as a preposition, indicating a conclusion or result that follows the context of the preceding text, similar to the function of 'therefore' or 'so'. In this context, '那么' is usually followed by a complete sentence or phrase, rather than modifying a noun or adjective on its own.
Example：他花了那么多时间准备这个报告 （Tā huāle nàme duō shíjiān zhǔnbèi zhège bàogào）。He spent so much time preparing this report.
Explanation: In this sentence, "那么" serves as a preposition that introduces the extent or degree of time spent on preparing the report. It indicates the amount of time spent in a way similar to "so much" in English.
When using them, it's important to note that while '这么' and '那么' are often interchangeable, they cannot always be substituted for each other. Especially in situations where expressing logical relationships or contrasts, '那么' should be given priority.
For example:
他那么优秀，我真羡慕他 （Tā nàme yōuxiù, wǒ zhēn xiànmù tā.' (He is so excellent, I really envy him), '那么优秀' (so excellent) serves as an evaluative relative clause, introducing the content of the main clause, while '我真羡慕他' (I really envy him) is an emotional summary of the preceding text. In this case, using '这么' would disrupt the original logical structure."
In these examples, "这么" (zhème) is used because the situation is directly relevant to the speaker or the current context. "那么" (nàme), which typically refers to something more distant in space or time, would not be suitable in these situations.
Conclusion:
As we conclude our exploration of 这么 and 那么, we recognize their distinct roles in expressing degrees of intensity or extent in Mandarin Chinese. While 这么 emphasizes the speaker's perspective and relates to objects or situations near the speaker, 那么 highlights the listener's viewpoint and relates to objects or situations near the listener or at a distance from the speaker. Understanding the nuances between 这么 and 那么 enhances communication and allows for more precise expression of degree or extent in Mandarin Chinese, enriching language learners' ability to convey meaning effectively. Embrace the power of adverbs in Mandarin Chinese, and let 这么 and 那么 guide you in crafting nuanced and expressive expressions.
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