这么 vs 这样: what is the difference?
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.
| 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 |
| 这样 | zhè yàng | Means 'like this' and can stand alone, before a verb, or before 的 + noun. | 这样 + verb / 这样的 + noun |
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.
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.
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 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.
GraphChinese drills each of these patterns and schedules the review that keeps it. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level