Chinese Demonstrative Pronouns — 这 / 那 / 哪

指示代词 (zhǐshì dàicí) are demonstrative pronouns — small words that point to a person or thing relative to the speaker. The three core words are 这 (zhè, "this", near the speaker), 那 (nà, "that", farther away), and 哪 (nǎ, "which", a question word).

English only has "this" and "that", but Chinese demonstratives combine with measure words, place words, and degree words to form a whole pointing system. All three are HSK 1–2 high-frequency words.

When 这 or 那 points to a noun, it almost always needs a measure word in between: 这个 (zhège, "this one"), 那个 (nàge, "that one"), 这本书 (zhè běn shū, "this book"), 那个人 (nà ge rén, "that person").

You cannot drop the measure word. 这书 and 那书 are wrong — say 这本书 ("this book") and 那本书 ("that book"). The measure word matches the noun: 本书 uses 本 for books, 个人 uses 个 for people.

When the noun is already clear from context, the measure word can stand alone: 这个 (this one), 那个 (that one), 这本 (this one, of a book). 我要这个 — "I want this one."

To point to a place, add 里 (lǐ) or the more colloquial 儿 (r): 这里 (zhèlǐ, "here"), 那里 (nàlǐ, "there"), 哪里 (nǎlǐ, "where"). The spoken forms are 这儿 (zhèr), 那儿 (nàr), and 哪儿 (nǎr).

我在这里 — "I am here." 他在那里 — "he is there." 你在哪儿？ — "where are you?" 这里 and 那里 describe a location; 哪儿 asks about one.

Add 些 (xiē) after 这 or 那 to make the plural: 这些 (zhèxiē, "these"), 那些 (nàxiē, "those"). They point to a group rather than a single item.

这些书 — "these books." 那些人 — "those people." 这些都是我的 — "these are all mine." Note that 些 is not a measure word; it simply marks a plural group, so you do not add another measure word after it.

哪 (nǎ) is the question form of the demonstratives. It combines with a measure word and noun to ask "which one": 哪个 (nǎge, "which one"), 哪种 (nǎ zhǒng, "which kind"), 哪本书 (nǎ běn shū, "which book").

As a place question, 哪儿 or 哪里 means "where": 你住在哪儿？ — "where do you live?" 你去哪里？ — "where are you going?"

Do not confuse 哪 (nǎ, rising tone, "which") with 那 (nà, falling tone, "that"). The tone changes the meaning completely: 哪个 ("which one") versus 那个 ("that one").

这么 (zhème, "this/so") and 那么 (nàme, "that/so") express degree or manner, roughly like "so" or "such": 这么高 (this tall), 那么贵 (that expensive), 这么好 (this good).

They also describe manner: 这么做 (do it this way), 那么说 (say it that way). 这么 points to something near or close to the speaker, while 那么 points to something more distant or to a comparison.

这么 + adjective = "this (degree)": 这个苹果这么大 — "this apple is this big." 那么 + adjective = "that (degree)": 那个地方那么远 — "that place is that far."

Do not drop the measure word. 这书 is wrong; say 这本书. The only exception is the plural 这些 / 那些, which already includes 些.

Do not confuse 这 (near) and 那 (far). 这个 is "this one" (close), 那个 is "that one" (farther away).

Do not confuse 哪 (nǎ, "which", question) and 那 (nà, "that", statement). The tone and meaning differ, so check which one the sentence needs.

Do not write 这么/那么 without the degree it describes. 这么高 or 这么做 needs the following adjective or verb; 这么 alone is incomplete.