ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-3.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

In  English, the words "that" and "so" are often used to increase the extent of an adjective (ex. "he is so tall" or "this food is so good"). In Chinese, 那么 (nàme) and 这么 (zhème) serve the same function. 

== Structure ==

All you have to do to use this grammar structure is put the 那么 or 这么 in front of the adjective. 

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 那么 / 这么 + Adj.

</div>

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*你 说得 <em>这么</em> 快，我 怎么 能 听懂？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ shuōde <em>zhème</em> kuài, wǒ zěnme néng tīngdǒng ? </span><span class="trans">You speak so fast. How could I understand you?</span>
*你 怎么 <em>那么</em> 忙？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>nàme</em> máng?</span><span class="trans">How come you are so busy?</span>
*雨 <em>这么</em> 大，明天 再 去 吧。<span class="pinyin"> Yǔ <em>zhème</em> dà, míngtiān zài qù ba.</span><span class="trans">It's raining so heavily. How about we go tomorrow?</span>
*你 <em>那么</em> 有钱 ，为什么 还 要 工作 ？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>nàme</em> yǒuqián, wèishénme hái yào gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">You are so rich. Why are you still working? </span>
*中国 人口 <em>这么</em>  多 ，当然 会 有 很 多 社会 问题。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rénkǒu <em>zhème</em>  duō, dāngrán huì yǒu hěn duō shèhuì wèntí.</span><span class="trans">China has such a big  population. Of course there will be many social problems.</span>
*我 没 想到 这个 考试 <em>这么</em> 难。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi xiǎng dào zhège kǎoshì <em>zhème</em> nán.</span><span class="trans">I didn't expect this exam is so difficult.</span>
*你 怎么 有 <em>这么</em> 多 问题 要 问？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme yǒu <em>zhème</em> duō wèntí yào wèn?</span><span class="trans">How come you have so many questions to ask?</span>
*这个 老外 怎么 会 了解 <em>那么</em> 多 中国 历史？<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎowài zěnme huì  liǎojiě <em>nàme</em> duō Zhōngguó lìshǐ?</span><span class="trans">How come this foreigner knows so much about Chinese history?</span>
*今天 <em>这么</em> 冷，你 怎么 穿 <em>那么</em> 少？<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>zhème</em> lěng, nǐ zěnme chuān <em>nàme</em> shǎo?</span><span class="trans">It's so cold today. How come you wear so little?</span>
*科技 <em>那么</em> 发达 ，什么 都 是 有 可能 的。<span class="pinyin">Kējì <em>nàme</em> fādá, shénme dōu shì yǒu kěnéng de.</span><span class="trans">Science and technology is so developed. Nothing is impossible.</span>
</div>

==When to use which one==
You might be thinking 那 and 这 have different meanings. How can they be used the same way?" Well, there are some differences. "这么" is used when the thing you are talking about is close by, when you would say "this" or "这个." On the other hand, if the object is far away, you would use "那么." Furthermore, this distance doesn't have to be physical, it can also refer to time, so you would use "那么" with things like "yesterday" or "tomorrow."

==See also==
*[[The "zui" superlative]]
*[[Expressing "excessively" with "tai"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)]] (pp. 15) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00326U9MS/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00326U9MS →buy] 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 71 - 2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 103) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]




[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Adjectives]]

{{Basic Grammar|那么|B1|那么 / 这么 + Adj.|他 怎么 <em>那么</em> 高！|grammar point|ASGNKKP6}}
{{Rel char|这么}}
{{Rel char|那}}
{{Rel char|这}}
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Used for|Describing things}}
{{POS|Adjectives}}
{{Similar|Intensifying with "duo"}}
{{Similar|Positive adjectives with "-ji le"}}
{{Similar|The "zui" superlative}}
{{Similar|Simple "noun + adjective" sentences}}
{{Translation|so}}
{{Translation|that}}