In this video lesson we'll learn how to say this and that in Chinese. We'll be able to use Measure Word 位 in Chinese and address people with Mr. and Miss in Chinese.
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:
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:
PINYIN | CHINESE | ENGLISH |
yíwèi lǎoshī | 一 ① 位老师 | one teacher |
yíwèi Zhōngguórén | 一位中国人 | one Chinese person |
yíwèi xiānsheng | 一位先生 | one gentleman |
yíwèi xiǎojiě | 一位小姐 | one young lady |
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:
But it is okay to introduce our own family members with 位, for example (See Grammar 2 of Lesson 18.1):
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:
For example: