pron.
there
那儿
there
The northern spoken pointer for 'over there', directing eyes toward a distant spot across the street or room.
Common Usage & Traps
- 在那儿 — there (at that place)
- 去那儿 — go there
- 那儿有 — there is/are there
- 我那儿 — my place / my end
- 你那儿 — your place / your end
- 坐在那儿 — sit there
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有那儿那儿有In Chinese, the place phrase comes before 有 when saying what exists there. 那儿有几个人 is natural; 有那儿几个人 sounds broken.
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在吗那儿在那儿吗The yes/no question word 吗 must sit at the end, not before the place word.
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坐那儿在坐在那儿在 must come before the place word, not after it. 坐在那儿 is natural.
Do 那儿 and 哪儿 mean the same thing?
No: 那儿 means there, 哪儿 means where.
那儿 points to a place away from the speaker. 哪儿 asks which place. The tone changes the meaning: nàr vs nǎr. Mixing them up can turn a statement into a question.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 那儿 = there | 哪儿 = where |
| Tone | nàr (4th tone) | nǎr (3rd tone) |
| Sentence | 他去那儿。He goes there. | 他去哪儿？Where does he go? |
When do you say 那儿 instead of 这儿?
Use 那儿 for a place away from you; 这儿 for a place near you.
这儿 means here, close to the speaker. 那儿 means there, away from the speaker. The choice depends on where the speaker stands, not on the listener. In the story, the narrator is not at the table, so 那儿 fits.
“他一个人坐在那儿，看外边。” (He sits there alone, looking outside.)
“他一个人坐在那儿，看外边。” (He sits there alone, looking outside.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 那儿 = away from speaker | 这儿 = near speaker |
| Viewpoint | That table over there | This spot right here |
| Typical use | 他坐在那儿。He sits over there. | 你坐这儿。You sit here. |
Can 你那儿 mean 'your side' in a WeChat message?
Yes, 你那儿 often means 'on your end' or 'your side' in chat.
In daily talk, 我这儿 and 你那儿 can mean my side and your side. It is not only a physical place. For example, 你那儿方便吗？ means Is it convenient on your end? This is common when making plans or asking for help.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 你那儿 = your side / your end | 你那儿 = only your physical location |
| Example | 你那儿方便吗？Is it convenient on your end? | Treating it as only a physical address |
| Context | WeChat, work, plans | Literal map directions |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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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小米：北京人喜欢说“这儿”和“ 那儿 ”。
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上海人也说“这儿”和“ 那儿 ”。
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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他一个人坐在 那儿 ，看外边。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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可现在的茶馆虽然还是可以喝茶，但是去 那儿 的人大多不是老北京。
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他们去 那儿 不是为了喝茶，是为了玩儿。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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