Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Demonstrative-Pronouns-and-Interrogative-Pronouns
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| ◀️ Personal Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Professions and Jobs ▶️ |
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on demonstrative pronouns and interrogative pronouns in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we will explore two important types of pronouns that are used to point out or ask about specific people or things. Demonstrative pronouns are used to indicate the proximity of an object or person, while interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, things, or places. By learning these pronouns, you will be able to express yourself more effectively and ask questions with ease in Mandarin Chinese.
Demonstrative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Demonstrative pronouns in Mandarin Chinese are used to point out or indicate the location or proximity of an object or person. They can be used to refer to something nearby, something far away, or something in between. There are three main demonstrative pronouns in Mandarin Chinese: 这 (zhè), 那 (nà), and 那个 (nèi ge). Let's take a closer look at each one:
1. 这 (zhè) - This
The demonstrative pronoun 这 (zhè) is used to refer to something that is close to the speaker. It is equivalent to the English word "this." Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 这本书 | zhè běn shū | This book |
| 这个人 | zhè gè rén | This person |
| 这些苹果 | zhè xiē píng guǒ | These apples |
2. 那 (nà) - That
The demonstrative pronoun 那 (nà) is used to refer to something that is far away from the speaker. It is equivalent to the English word "that." Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 那边的房子 | nà biān de fáng zi | That house over there |
| 那个男孩子 | nà gè nán hái zi | That boy |
| 那些花 | nà xiē huā | Those flowers |
3. 那个 (nèi ge) - That (generic)
The demonstrative pronoun 那个 (nèi ge) is used to refer to something that is neither close to nor far away from the speaker. It is equivalent to the English word "that" in a generic sense. Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 那个地方 | nèi ge dì fang | That place |
| 那个问题 | nèi ge wèn tí | That question |
| 那个人 | nèi ge rén | That person |
Interrogative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Interrogative pronouns in Mandarin Chinese are used to ask questions about people, things, or places. They help us gather information and express curiosity. There are four main interrogative pronouns in Mandarin Chinese: 谁 (shéi), 什么 (shén me), 哪 (nǎ), and 几 (jǐ). Let's explore each one:
1. 谁 (shéi) - Who
The interrogative pronoun 谁 (shéi) is used to ask questions about people. It is equivalent to the English word "who." Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 你是谁？ | nǐ shì shéi? | Who are you? |
| 谁是老师？ | shéi shì lǎo shī? | Who is the teacher? |
| 我们邀请了谁？ | wǒ men yāo qǐng le shéi? | Who did we invite? |
2. 什么 (shén me) - What
The interrogative pronoun 什么 (shén me) is used to ask questions about things. It is equivalent to the English word "what." Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 这是什么？ | zhè shì shén me? | What is this? |
| 你在做什么？ | nǐ zài zuò shén me? | What are you doing? |
| 这是什么颜色？ | zhè shì shén me yán sè? | What color is this? |
3. 哪 (nǎ) - Which
The interrogative pronoun 哪 (nǎ) is used to ask questions about choices or options. It is equivalent to the English word "which." Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 你喜欢哪个颜色？ | nǐ xǐ huān nǎ gè yán sè? | Which color do you like? |
| 哪个电影院比较好？ | nǎ gè diàn yǐng yuàn bǐ jiào hǎo? | Which movie theater is better? |
| 你要买哪本书？ | nǐ yào mǎi nǎ běn shū? | Which book do you want to buy? |
4. 几 (jǐ) - How Many
The interrogative pronoun 几 (jǐ) is used to ask questions about quantity or number. It is equivalent to the English phrase "how many." Here are some examples:
| Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 你有几个兄弟姐妹？ | nǐ yǒu jǐ gè xiōng dì jiě mèi? | How many siblings do you have? |
| 这里有几个人？ | zhè lǐ yǒu jǐ gè rén? | How many people are here? |
| 你会说几种语言？ | nǐ huì shuō jǐ zhǒng yǔ yán? | How many languages can you speak? |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have learned about demonstrative pronouns and interrogative pronouns in Mandarin Chinese. Demonstrative pronouns help us indicate the proximity of an object or person, while interrogative pronouns enable us to ask questions and gather information. By mastering these pronouns, you will be able to express yourself more accurately and engage in conversations more effectively in Mandarin Chinese. Keep practicing and exploring the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese grammar!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Mastering Chinese Grammar Easily – 8 Rules You Need to Know
- 叫 (jiào)
- Particles and Structure Particles
- Comparative Form and Usage
- How to Use Have
- Classifiers The Complete Guide
- Subject Verb Object Structure
- 二 (èr) versus 两 (liǎng)
- 了 le
- Express possession with 有 (yǒu)
| ◀️ Personal Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Professions and Jobs ▶️ |