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How to use 那么 and 这么
Duplicated adjectives in Chinese
How to use 把
How to use 被
How to use 为了
How to use 总是
How to use 刚 and 刚刚
Expressing “less than” with 不到
How to use 极了
How to use 就是
How to use 地
How to use 挺
How to use 看起来
How to use 如果
How to use 另外
Before and after with 之前 & 之后
How to use 那么 and 这么
Differences between 通过 and 经过
How to use 着
Chinese comparison structures
How to use 之类的
How to use 越来越
How to use 来说
Expressing "no wonder" with 怪不得 and 难怪
On This Page
How To Use 那么 And 这么
Structure
Examples
Faqs
HOW TO USE 那么 AND 这么
In English, we use the words “that” and “so” to emphasize the extent of adjectives.
For instance, we may say “She is so beautiful” or “Life is so hard!” to express our feelings.
那么 (nà me) and 这么 (zhè me) serve the same function in Chinese.
HOW TO USE 那么 AND 这么 | STRUCTURE
Structure
We put 那么 and 这么 before adjectives to modify them.
It has the same sentence structure as in English. It’s pretty straightforward:
PATTERN
Subject + 那么/这么 + Adjective
When to Use Which One
Most people feel confused when distinguishing between “那么“ and “这么.”
TIP | You can think of 那么 as ‘that (+ adjective)’, and 这么 as ‘this (+adjective)’, in the sense that 那么 indicates a distance from the speaker, and 这么 indicates a closeness to the speaker (in either time or proximity).
那么DistanceThat (+ adjective)这么ClosenessThis (+adjective)
For example, when talking about a celebrity, one would say, “她那么漂亮.”
However, if you were looking at her picture, “她这么漂亮” would be acceptable as well. Here’s another example:
他以前那么胖，现在怎么这么瘦？tā yǐ qián nà me pàng，xiàn zài zěn me zhè me shòuHe used to be so fat, why is he so thin now?
However, in some cases, it is hard to estimate the distances.
需要做的工作这么多。V.S. 需要做的工作那么多。xū yào zuò de gōng zuò zhè (nà) me duōThere is so much work to be done.
We don’t need to force ourselves to choose between “那么” and “这么.” We can use both in these situations; both are okay.
HOW TO USE 那么 AND 这么 | EXAMPLES
Now, let’s apply them in sentences!
zhè gè xiǎo zhèn xiàn zài zěn me zhè me pò jiù
Play
这个小镇现在怎么这么破旧？
Why is this town so shabby now?
nǐ zěn me nà me tiān zhēn
Play
你怎么那么天真！
How can you be so naive!
View More Phrases
CHINESEPINYINENGLISHPlay今天天气这么好，我们去野餐吧！jīn tiān tiān qì zhè me hǎo，wǒ men qù yě cān baThe weather is so lovely today, let’s go for a picnic!Play她这么努力，一定能考上理想的学校。tā zhè me nǔ lì，yīdìng néng kǎo shànglǐ xiǎng de xuéxiàoShe works so hard; She will get into a great school.Play科技发展得那么快，未来一定是数字化的。kē jì fā zhǎn dé nà me kuài，wèi lái yī dìng shì shù zì huà deTechnology is developing so fast. The future must surely be digital.Play你唱歌那么好听，大家一定会喜欢的。nǐ chàng gē nà me hǎo tīng，dà jiā yī dìng huì xǐ huān deYou sing so well, everyone will love it.Play这个小镇以前环境那么好。zhè gè xiǎo zhèn yǐ qián huán jìng nà me hǎoThis town used to be in such a good environmentPlay这啤酒这么好喝，你一定要尝尝！zhè pí jiǔ zhè me hǎo hē，nǐ yī dìng yào cháng chángThis beer is so good, you must try it!Play你那么聪明，一定能猜到。nǐ nà me cōng míng，yīdìng néng cāi dàoYou are so smart that you must have guessed
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FAQs
How to use 那么 and 这么?Most people feel confused when understanding the difference between “那么“ and “这么.”
You can think of 那么 as ‘that (+ adjective)’, and 这么 as ‘this (+adjective)’, in the sense that 那么 indicates a distance from the speaker, and 这么 indicates a closeness to the speaker (in either time or proximity).
For example, when talking about a celebrity, one would say, “她那么漂亮.” However, if you were looking at her picture, “她这么漂亮” would be acceptable as well.
What is the structure with 那么/ 这么?We put 那么 and 这么 before adjectives to modify them.
It has the same sentence structure as in English. It’s pretty straightforward.
Subject + 那么/这么 + Adjective
What are some examples with 那么?科技发展得那么快，未来一定是数字化的。kē jì fā zhǎn dé nà me kuài，wèi lái yī dìng shì shù zìhuà deTechnology is developing so fast. The future will surely be digital.
这个小镇以前环境那么好。 zhè gè xiǎo zhèn yǐ qián huán jìng nà me hǎoThis town used to be in such a good environment
你那么聪明，一定能猜到。 nǐ nà me cōng míng ，yīdìng néng cāi dàoYou are so smart that you must have guessed.
What are some examples with 这么?今天天气这么好，我们去野餐吧！jīn tiān tiān qì zhè me hǎo，wǒ men qù yě cān baThe weather is so lovely today, let’s go for a picnic!
这啤酒这么好喝，你一定要尝尝！zhè pí jiǔ zhè me hǎo hē ，nǐ yī dìng yào cháng chángThis beer is so good, you must try it!
他以前那么胖，现在怎么这么瘦？tā yǐ qián nà me pàng ，xiàn zài zěn me zhè me shòuHe used to be so fat, why is he so thin now?
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Duplicated adjectives in Chinese
A A + 的 (+ Noun)
How to use 把
把 + Object + Verb phrases
How to use 被
Subject + 被 + Doer of the action (optional) + Verb
How to use 为了
为了 …… ，Subject ……
How to use 总是
Subject + 总是 + Verb
How to use 刚 and 刚刚
Subject + 刚 + Verb
Expressing “less than” with 不到
Subject + Verb + 不到 (+ noun/noun phrase)
How to use 极了
Subject + Adjective + 极了
How to use 就是
就是（+ 不）+ Verb
How to use 地
Subject + Adjective + 地 + Verb
How to use 挺
挺 + Adjective + 的
How to use 看起来
Subject + 看起来 + Adjective
How to use 如果
如果 + Statement, (就 +) Statement
How to use 另外
另外 + Number + Measure Word + Noun
Before and after with 之前 & 之后
Event/Time + 之前/之后
How to use 那么 and 这么
Subject + 那么/这么 + Adjective
Differences between 通过 and 经过
经过 + Event / Time ，……
How to use 着
Place + Verb + 着 + [Noun Phrase]
Chinese comparison structures
Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样
How to use 之类的
⋯⋯ 之类的 + Category
How to use 越来越
Subject + 越来越 + Adjective + 了
How to use 来说
对 + Person/Thing/Animal + 来说 + [Statement/Opinion]
Expressing "no wonder" with 怪不得 and 难怪
怪不得 + [Observation/Outcome], 原来 + [Reason]