Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives show which thing you are talking about by pointing to its location relative to the speaker and listener. Mandarin has a straightforward system based on proximity.
Nearby
Use zhè 这 for things near the speaker. It marks an item that is immediately at hand or just mentioned.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 这 | zhè | this (near me) |
| 这个 | zhè ge | this one (near me) |
| 这里 | zhè lǐ | here (near me) |
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Farther
Use nà 那 for things farther from the speaker, or that are opposite the listener. It marks an item more removed in space or discourse.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 那 | nà | that (farther) |
| 那个 | nà ge | that one (farther) |
| 那里 | nà lǐ | there (farther) |
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Middle
Use nàlǐ 那里 for a place farther away, and sometimes nèi 内 as a more formal demonstrative meaning "that inside" for locations within a known area. Mandarin does not have a common neutral demonstrative like "that over there" distinct from nà.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 那里 | nà lǐ | there (far) |
| 内 | nèi | that inside (formal) |
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More Examples
| Hanzi Phrase | Pinyin Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 🧴 那边的洗发水比这里的便宜。 | Nà biān de xǐfàshuǐ bǐ zhèlǐ de piányí. | The shampoo over there is cheaper than the one here. |
| 🧼 这边的肥皂我用过，很好用。 | Zhè biān de féizǎo wǒ yòng guò, hěn hǎo yòng. | I have used the soap here; it works well. |
| 🧷 中间那个毛巾看起来很柔软。 | Zhōngjiān nàge máojīn kàn qǐlái hěn róuruǎn. | The towel in the middle looks very soft. |
| 🧢 那边架子上的水壶我也想买。 | Nà biān jiàzi shàng de shuǐhú wǒ yě xiǎng mǎi. | I also want to buy the water bottle on that shelf over there. |
| 🧺 这里的购物篮可以借用吗？ | Zhèlǐ de gòuwù lán kěyǐ jièyòng ma? | Can I borrow a shopping basket from here? |
Summary
Mandarin demonstrative adjectives are simple: use zhè 这 for things near the speaker, nà 那 for things farther away, and you can use nàlǐ 那里 for places. Adding ge 个 turns them into demonstrative pronouns when you need to stand for an item.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025