Beginner Lesson 17.1 – This and That

Grammar 1: This and That in Chinese · HSK 1

zhè 这 this | nà 那 that

When introducing someone or something, we can use 这 and 那 to refer to them. Here are some example sentences of using 这 and 那 to express this and that in Chinese:

• zhè shì yí wèi xiānsheng 
  这是一位先生
  this is a gentleman
• nàshì yí wèi xiǎojiě 
  那是一位小姐
  that is a young lady

Grammar 2: Measure Word 位 in Chinese · HSK 3

wèi 位 a polite Measure Word for people

We've already learned that 个 is the general Measure Word in Chinese. But sometimes if you want to be polite and respectful, we use Measure Word 位 to address people. For example:

NOTES:
① The number word 一 can be pronounced in three different ways: yī, yí and yì because of its tone change rule.

However, we do not use 位 for our own family members. For example, to say "I have two big brothers", here's what we say and what we don't say:

• wǒ yǒu yíge gēge
  我有两个哥哥。
• wǒ yǒu liǎngwèi gēge
  我有两位哥哥。

But it is okay to introduce our own family members with 位, for example (See Grammar 2 of Lesson 18.1):

• zhèwèi shì wǒde bàba
  这位是我的爸爸。
  this is my dad

Grammar 3: Mr. and Miss in Chinese· HSK 1

In English when addressing Mr. Li or Miss Wang., the last name goes after Mr. or Miss, but in Chinese, the last name goes before the word 先生 or 小姐, like this:

Last Name + 先生 / 小姐

For example:

• Lǐ Xiānsheng
  李先生
  Mr. Li
• Wáng Xiǎojiě
  王小姐
  Miss Wang