How to use 这、那
这 / 那 + Measure Word (+ Noun)
这 and 那 commonly identify a particular counted item through a classifier before the noun. The classifier provides the unit or category, while the demonstrative indicates which item the speaker means. This gives a longer phrase than the simple demonstrative-plus-noun arrangement familiar from many English expressions.
Choose the classifier appropriate to the noun and intended meaning rather than relying on 个 for every item. When the noun is already understood, the demonstrative and classifier can sometimes stand without repeating it. The related question word 哪 follows a comparable pattern when asking which item. These are core counted-noun structures; particular fixed expressions and other kinds of nouns may use different arrangements, so learn common phrases in context.
Examples with pinyin and English
那个人
that person
这本书
this book
那件事
that matter (in the sense of business, affair, or thing)
这瓶啤酒
this bottle of beer
What to remember
- Place a classifier between demonstrative and noun.
- Match the classifier to the intended unit.
- The understood noun may be left out.
Practise the pattern
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.