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  <title>The filler word "neige"</title>
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  <h1>The filler word "<span class="pinyinst">nèige</span>" "<span class="hanzist">那个</span>"</h1>

  <p>In conversation, you may find yourself at a loss for words, unable to find the correct phrase you are looking for, or simply needing time to gather your thoughts. When you experience this feeling, in English, you may say "<b>umm</b>" or "<b>uhhh</b>" or another filler word. In Chinese, the word for this is <span class="hanzi">那个</span> (<span class="pinyin">nèige</span>). (The word <span class="hanzi">那个</span> can be pronounced both "<span class="pinyin">nàge</span>" and "<span class="pinyin">nèige</span>," but for this usage, "<span class="pinyin">nèige</span>" is normally used.)</p>

  <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>

  <p>In English, words like "<b>ummm</b>" and "<b>uh</b>" are used as filler<a href="#fn1" class="footnoteRef" id="fnref1"><sup>1</sup></a> words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, <span class="hanzi">那个</span> (<span class="pinyin">nèige</span>) is also used for this purpose. To English speakers not fortunate enough to be fluent in Mandarin this may raise an eyebrow because it can sound a bit "<b>racist</b>," but it's very common in Mandarin and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.</p>

  <div class="jiegou">
    <div class="deux">
      <span class="hanzist">(那个⋯⋯) (那个⋯⋯) </span>+ [anything] + <span class="hanzist">(那个⋯⋯</span>)
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  <p><span class="hanzi">那个</span> (<span class="pinyin">nèige</span>) can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought.</p>

  <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>

  <div class="liju">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 我 不 跟 你们 一起 去 了，可以 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Nèige</span>... wǒ bù gēn nǐmen yīqǐ qù le, kěyǐ ma?</span> <br/>So, ummm... I won't go with you guys, OK?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 想 吃 <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 湖南 菜。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng chī <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span> .. <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span> .. Húnán cài.</span> <br/>I want to eat that... ummm, you know... Hunan cuisine.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 我 明天 不 来 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Nèige</span>... wǒ míngtiān bù lái le.</span> <br/>Ummm... I'm not coming tomorrow.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 这样 做 不 好 吧？</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Nèige</span>... zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo ba?</span> <br/>Ummm, it's not good to do it this way?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 你 可以 做 我 的 女 朋友 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Nèige</span>... nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚpéngyou ma?</span><br/> Like... could you be my girlfriend?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 不好意思 ， 我 要 走 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Nèige</span>... bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yào zǒu le.</span><br/> Ummmm... sorry, but I've gotta go.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她 很 漂亮 ， 就 像 <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 明星 一样。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā hěn piàoliang, jiù xiàng <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span>... míngxīng yīyàng.</span><br/> She's very pretty, just like, you know, a celebrity.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 想 看看 你 买 的 <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ iPhone。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng kànkan nǐ mǎi de <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span>... <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span>... iPhone.</span><br/> I'd like to take a look at your, ummm, you know... iPhone you bought.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 我 要 去 开会 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Nèige</span>... wǒ yào qù kāihuì le.</span><br/> Ummm... I have to attend a meeting.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">昨天 <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ <span class="fondjaune">那个</span> ⋯⋯ 小笼包 真 好吃。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span> .. <span class="fondjaune">nèige</span> .. xiǎolóngbāo zhēn hǎochī.</span> <br/>Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.</li>
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  <h2 id="references">References</h2>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <section class="footnotes">
    <hr/>

    <ol>
      <li id="fn1">Filler (linguistics) on Wikipedia</li>
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