pron.
A distant city or state's name in ancient China. That one, the far one — a pronoun pointing to something not near.
那
conj.
那 in the dialogue, reaching back to a given condition to move forward. Then; in that case; so — a quick pivot from a premise to its result.
Common Usage & Traps
- 那个 — that one (general measure word for one thing)
- 那些 — those (more than one)
- 那是 — that is; that was
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那苹果那个苹果For one specific apple, default to 那个苹果. 那苹果 can sound clipped or like a contrast, and beginners often drop the measure word.
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那三个苹果是哪里？那三个苹果是哪里的？To ask where something is from, use 哪里的, not 哪里. 哪里 asks location; 哪里的 asks origin.
哪 (nǎ) vs 那 (nà): How do I stop mixing up 'where/which' and 'that'?
哪 has 口 because you open your mouth to ask; 那 just points at 'that'.
The tone is the big trap: 哪 is nǎ, third tone, for questions like 哪里 and 哪个. 那 is nà, fourth tone, for pointing at something: 那个, 那些, 那是. If you hear a dipping tone, expect a question. If you hear a falling tone, expect a statement. Write 口 on the left and you are asking; no 口 means you are pointing.
“我问超市的人那三个苹果是哪里的？” (I asked the supermarket staff where those three apples were from.)
“我问超市的人那三个苹果是哪里的？” (I asked the supermarket staff where those three apples were from.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking which or where | 你去哪里？ (Where are you going?) | 你去那里？ (You go there?) |
| Pointing at that | 你去那里。 (You go there.) | 你去哪里。 (broken as a statement) |
| Tone | 哪 nǎ (dipping) | 那 nà (falling) for questions |
| Mouth radical | 哪 has 口 | 那 has no 口 when pointing |
Can I say 那苹果 for 'that apple' or do I need 那个苹果?
For one specific apple, say 那个苹果; 那苹果 sounds clipped and often off.
English lets 'that' sit directly on a noun: that apple. Chinese usually wants a measure word when you point at one item: 那个苹果, 那个人, 那件事. Saying 那苹果 is not always a hard crash, but it sounds incomplete in beginner speech. When the noun is plural, use 那些: 那些苹果. When you identify something, use 那是: 那是苹果. For HSK 1, default to 那个 + noun for one thing and 那些 + noun for more than one.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| One specific thing | 那个苹果 | 那苹果 (sounds clipped) |
| More than one thing | 那些苹果 | 那苹果 (for plural) |
| With a number | 那三个苹果 | 那三苹果 (missing measure word) |
Appears in Stories 11 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
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我问超市的人 那 三个苹果是哪里的？
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
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那 ……
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
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那 ，你今天给我一百块钱吧“！
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
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那 是我的爱人， 那 张桌子，右边那个。
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B：左边 那 两个小朋友是你的孩子？
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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那 你网球还打吗？
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A： 那 你怎么办？
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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“ 那 ，我可以一个人玩儿”。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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对面做服装的老总接话说， 那 你还撑什么。
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可直到散席， 那 碗汤也没再碰过。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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前面说过有的方便面是热风干燥， 那 它的含油量更是几乎可以忽略不计。
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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那 ，北京人怎么说“here”和“there”？
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
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我问超市的人 那 两个苹果是哪里的？
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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大中听了，看 那 杯不热的茶，觉得老先生很好。
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