这么 vs 那么: what is the difference?
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。
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这么 | zhè me | Points to a degree or manner near the speaker: 'this much', 'so'. | 这么 + adj / verb |
| 那么 | nà me | Points to a degree or manner that is far away or already mentioned: 'that much', 'so'. | 那么 + adj / verb |
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.
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.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Demonstrative Adverbs: 那么、这么、那样、这样 (HSK 2) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 次 vs 遍 · 刚 vs 刚才 · 更 vs 还 · 还 vs 已经 · 看见 vs 看到 · 可以 vs 能 · 吗 vs 吧 · 吗 vs 是不是 · 如果 vs 只要 · 上去 vs 上来 · 往 vs 向 · 有点儿 vs 一点儿 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
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。
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