In this HSK 3 video lesson we'll continue to learn about 指示代词 (Zhǐshì Dàicí ▸ Demonstrative Pronoun) 这么/这样/那么/那样. We'll learn how to use 这么/这样/那么/那样 to indicate "high degree" and "manner" and how to use 这样/那样 to indicate "nature".

这么/这样/那么/那样 v. - indicating “high degree”
这么/这样/那么/那样 v. - indicating “manner”
这样/那样 + 的 + n. (Phrase) - indicating “nature”

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GRAMMAR

Grammar 1. 这么/这样/那么/那样 v.

zhème/zhèyàng/nàme/nàyàng v. ▸ this/this/that/that v.

这么, 这样, 那么, 那样 are all 指示代词 (Zhǐshì Dàicí ▸ Demonstrative Pronoun). They can be used before verbs to indicate "high degree".

❖ For this particular usage, 这么 and 那么 are also more common in spoken language, while 这样，那样sound a lot more formal and dramatic. So we’ll practice mainly with 这么 and 那么.

这么, 那么 - more common in spoken language

Wǒ zhème ’ài nǐ.
我这么爱你。
I this much love you .
Tā nàyàng xǐhuan dài màozi.
他那么喜欢戴帽子。
He “name/nayang” like wearing hat.

这样, 那样 - not as common in spoken language; sound formal and dramatic

Wǒ zhèyàng ’ài nǐ.
我这样爱你。
I “zheme/zheyang” love you.
Tā nàyàng xǐhuan dài màozi.
他那样喜欢戴帽子。
He “that much” like wearing hat.

More practice with 这么 and 那么

Zhè jiàn shì wèishénme Xiǎo Xióng zhème qīngchu?
这件事为什么小熊这么清楚？
This “jian” thing (-) why Little Xiong “this much” knows clearly?
Nǐ nàme bù xiāngxìn wǒ, wǒ tài nánguò le.
你那么不相信我，我太难过了。
You “that much” not “believe/believe in/trust” me, I (am) so sad.
Nǐ zhème xiǎng rènshi tā, wèishénme bú qù gēn tā jièshào yíxià zìjǐ ne?
你这么想认识他，为什么不去跟他介绍一下自己呢？
You “this much” want to know him, why no go introduce “really quick” (your)self to him?
Wǒ nàme xīwàng néng qù Bèijīng de nà suǒ dàxué dúshū.
我那么希望能去北京的那所大学读书。
I “that much” hope (that I) can go to that “suo” (of) university/college (in) Beijing to attend school.

☑ See also "这么/这样/那么/那样 + adj." - 这么/这样/那么/那样 indicating "high degree".

Grammar 2. 这么/这样/那么/那样 v.

zhème/zhèyàng/nàme/nàyàng v. ▸ v. (in) this/this/that/that (manner); v. (like) this/this/that/that

指示代词 (Zhǐshì Dàicí ▸ Demonstrative Pronoun) 这么, 这样, 那么, 那样 can also be used before adjectives to indicate "manner".

❖ For this particular usage, 这么 and 那么, 这样 and 那样 are all commonly used a lot in spoken language. So we’ll practice with all of them.

这么 and 这样

Nǐ zhème zuò tā kěnéng huì bù gāoxìng.
Nǐ zhèyàng zuò tā kěnéng huì bù gāoxìng.
你这么做他可能会不高兴。
你这样做他可能会不高兴。
You doing (things) (in) this (manner) (-) he probably will (be) unhappy.

Lǎoshī, zhè ge zì zhème xiě, duì ma?
Lǎoshī, zhè ge zì zhèyàng xiě, duì ma?
老师，这个字这么写，对吗？
老师，这个字这样写，对吗。
Teacher, this “ge” (of) character (-) write “(in) this (way)”, (is it) correct?

Wǒ zhème huídá, dàjiā xiànzài qīngchu le ma?
Wǒ zhèyàng huídá, dàjiā xiànzài qīngchu le ma?
我这么回答，大家现在清楚了吗？
我这样回答，大家现在清楚了吗？
I answer(ed) “(in) this (way)”, (does) everyone now know clearly (already)?

那么 and 那样

Wǒ bù xiāngxìn tā huì nàme xiǎng.
Wǒ bù xiāngxìn tā huì nàyàng xiǎng.
我不相信他会那么想。
我不相信他会那样想。
I (do) not believe (that) he will think (in) that (way).

Wǒ yě xīwàng néng nàme shēnghuó jǐ nián.
Wǒ yě xīwàng néng nàyàng shēnghuó jǐ nián.
我也希望能那么生活几年。
我也希望能那样生活几年。
I too hope (that I) can live “(like) that” (for) a few years.

Wǒ shì nàme dǎsuàn de, nǐ tīngting zěnmeyàng?
Wǒ shì nàyàng dǎsuàn de, nǐ tīngting zěnmeyàng?
我是那么打算的，你听听怎么样。
我是那样打算的，你听听怎么样。
(It) was “(in) that way” (that) I planned, you listen “really quick” (and see) how (it is).

Grammar 3. 这样/那样 + 的 + n. (Phrase)

zhèyàng/nàyàng 的 + n. (Phrase) ▸ this/that (type/kind) of n. (Phrase)

指示代词 (Zhǐshì Dàicí ▸ Demonstrative Pronoun) 这样 and 那样 can also be used to indicate "nature".

❖ For this particular usage, 这么 and 那么 cannot be used.

For example,

Wǒ méi xiǎngdào zìjǐ néng kǎoshàng zhèyàng de zhōngxué.
我没想到自己能考上这样的中学。
I (have) not thought-(with the result of)-thinking-of (that) (my)self can took-test-(with the result of)-getting-into (a) university/college “(like) this”.
Nàyàng de shēnghuó jiù shì wǒ zuì xiǎng yào de shēnghuó.
那样的生活就是我最想要的生活。
Life “(like) that” “exactly” is (the) life (that) I want “want to own” the most.
Shàng zhōngxué de shíhou, wǒ fēicháng xǐhuan chuān zhèyàng de kùzi.
上中学的时候，我非常喜欢穿这样的裤子。
When attending middle/high school, I quite like wearing pants “(like) this”.
Nàyàng de niánqíngrén, xiànzài hěn duō.
那样的年轻人，现在很多。
Young people “(like) that”, nowadays (there are) very many.

总结: 指示代词 - 这么/这样/那么/那样

Zǒngjié: Zhǐshì Dàicí - zhème/zhèyàng/nàme/nàyàng ▸ Summary: Demonstrative Pronoun 这么/这样/那么/那样)

It might be a little bit confusing, the differences between 这么 and 这样, and also the differences between 那么 and 那样. To make it easier, we have this chart.

STRUCTURE	INDICATED MEANING	EXAMPLES	SPOKEN LANGUAGE USAGE
这么/那么 adj.	high degree	这么脏 / 那么脏	common
这样/那样 adj.	high degree	这样脏 / 那样脏	not as common
这么/那么 v.	high degree	这么相信 / 那么相信	common
这样/那样 v.	high degree	这样相信 / 那样相信	not as common
这么/那么 v.	manner	这么做 / 那么做	common
这样/那样 v.	manner	这样做 / 那样做	common
这样/那样的 n.	nature	这样的大学 / 那样的大学	common

❖ Also don’t be overwhelmed by all these differences. When there’s a situation where both words can be used, you can just stick with the word that is more often used. We’re introducing all these differences because we want to make sure that when you see or hear the word in the future, you will be able to understand the meaning and know why it’s used in that context. At this stage of learning Chinese, it’s okay to temporarily stick to only one way of saying something and gradually become comfortable of using all the variations.