Beginner Lesson 18.1 – Ask Which

Grammar 1: Ask Which in Chinese · HSK 1

nǎ 哪 which

哪 is the pronoun we use to ask which in Chinese. It cannot be followed directly by a noun. Instead, we need to follow this structure:

哪 + Measure Word + Noun

For example:

• nǎge rén
  哪个人
  which person
• nǎwèi lǎoshī
  哪位老师
  which teacher

Grammar 2: Measure Word in Chinese (III)· HSK 1

zhè 这 this, nà 那 that, and nǎ 哪 which are all Pronouns in Chinese. When they are used before nouns, we need to follow this structure:

Pronoun (这/那/哪) + Measure Word + Noun

This is one of the most important usages of Measure Word in Chinese. Here are some examples:

Sometimes 这, 那 , 哪 can be directly used before Nouns, with the Measure Word omitted. Here are some examples:

NOTES: We can say nànián 那年 that year and nǎnián 哪年 which year, but we don't say zhènián 这年 for "this year" because we say jīnnián 今年.

Grammar 3: 同学 VS. 学生 in Chinese· HSK 1

In Chinese 学生 means student, while 同学 means classmate, basically people who take the same class with you. But sometimes 同学 can be used to address someone who appears to be a student. Generally, 学生 is the identity of being a student, and 同学 is either "your classmate", or the name or title you use to address someone that you believe to be a student, usually when (1) you are older and not a student yourself, or (2) you are also a student but not necessarily in the same class or school.