Demonstrative Adverbs: 那么、这么、那样、这样
这么 (zhème), 那么 (nàme), 这样 (zhèyàng) and 那样 (nàyàng) are demonstrative adverbs that point to a degree or a manner. They sit before an adjective or verb, with 这 for near and 那 for far.
| 词 | 距离 | 用法 | 例 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这么 | near (this) | degree/manner adverb | 这么好 |
| 那么 | far (that) | degree/manner adverb | 那么贵 |
| 这样 | near (this) | manner adverb / predicate | 这样做 |
| 那样 | far (that) | manner adverb / predicate | 那样说 |
这么/那么 directly precede adjectives: 你怎么这么快？
这样/那样 describe the manner of an action: 你不能那样说话。
Near forms (这) refer to the current situation; far forms (那) refer to something external or surprising.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你怎么这么快就做完了？ | Nǐ zěn me zhè me kuài jiù zuò wán le? | How did you finish so quickly? | 这么 (this/so) + adjective 快; speaker is surprised by the near/present result |
| 那么贵的东西，我买不起。 | Nà me guì de dōng xi, wǒ mǎi bù qǐ. | Something that expensive, I can't afford it. | 那么 modifies 贵 to mean 'that expensive'; refers to an external object the speaker is pointing at |
| 你不应该那样对他说话。 | Nǐ bù yīng gāi nà yàng duì tā shuō huà. | You shouldn't talk to him like that. | 那样 describes the manner of the action 说话; far form because the speaker disapproves of that behavior |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
这么 (zhè me)
Points to a degree or manner near the speaker: 'this much', 'so'.
Structure: 这么 + adj / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这么晚了，你还不睡吗？ | Zhè me wǎn le, nǐ hái bú shuì ma? | It is so late, are you still not sleeping? |
| 我没想到他这么年轻。 | Wǒ méi xiǎng dào tā zhè me nián qīng. | I did not expect him to be so young. |
| 这么多菜，我们吃不完。 | Zhè me duō cài, wǒ men chī bu wán. | There is so much food that we cannot finish it. |
Not: 你为什么这么样做？ Say 这样 or 这么, not 这么样, before a verb.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, pronouns (指示代词).
那么 (nà me)
Points to a degree or manner that is far away or already mentioned: 'that much', 'so'.
Structure: 那么 + adj / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他那么高，一定会打篮球。 | Tā nà me gāo, yí dìng huì dǎ lán qiú. | He is so tall, he must be able to play basketball. |
| 没有那么难，你试试。 | Méi yǒu nà me nán, nǐ shì shì. | It is not that hard, give it a try. |
| 北京的夏天没有上海那么热。 | Běi jīng de xià tiān méi yǒu shàng hǎi nà me rè. | Summer in Beijing is not as hot as in Shanghai. |
Not: 他那么很高。 那么 is already a degree word, so 很 is not added.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, pronouns (指示代词).
这样 (zhè yàng)
Means 'like this' and can stand alone, before a verb, or before 的 + noun.
Structure: 这样 + verb / 这样的 + noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这样可以吗？ | Zhè yàng kě yǐ ma? | Is this way all right? |
| 你应该这样写。 | Nǐ yīng gāi zhè yàng xiě. | You should write it like this. |
| 我们这样做吧。 | Wǒ men zhè yàng zuò ba. | Let us do it this way. |
Not: 你这样的做不对。 Before a verb 这样 takes no 的; 这样的 is only for nouns.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, pronouns (指示代词).
那样 (nà yàng)
Means 'like that' for a manner or kind that is not near.
Structure: 那样 + verb / 那样的 + noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他总是那样笑。 | Tā zǒng shì nà yàng xiào. | He always smiles like that. |
| 不要那样说话。 | Bú yào nà yàng shuō huà. | Do not talk like that. |
| 那样的衣服太贵了。 | Nà yàng de yī fu tài guì le. | Clothes like that are too expensive. |
Not: 我没有见过那样书。 Before a noun use 那样的: 那样的书.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, pronouns (指示代词).
Compared side by side: 这么 vs 那么 · 这么 vs 这样.
What this opens up
These patterns list Demonstrative Adverbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Demonstrative Adverbs
What does 指示代词 (Demonstrative Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
这么 (zhème), 那么 (nàme), 这样 (zhèyàng) and 那样 (nàyàng) are demonstrative adverbs that point to a degree or a manner. They sit before an adjective or verb, with 这 for near and 那 for far. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 指示代词 (Demonstrative Adverbs) in a sentence?
你怎么这么快就做完了？ — Nǐ zěn me zhè me kuài jiù zuò wán le? — How did you finish so quickly?. 这么 (this/so) + adjective 快; speaker is surprised by the near/present result.
Where does 指示代词 (Demonstrative Adverbs) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 2, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 指示代词 (Demonstrative Adverbs) lead to?
Comparison with 跟 (HSK 2). Each of them names 指示代词 (Demonstrative Adverbs) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 这么 and 这样?
这么 sits before an adjective or verb and gives a degree: 这么大. 这样 can stand alone or mean 'in this way': 这样可以。 You cannot say 这样大.
What is the difference between 这么 and 那么?
这么 points to something close to you or to the present moment. 那么 points to something far away or already mentioned, as in 我没有他那么高。
Demonstrative Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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