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这么 (zhè me) — (pronoun) so, such (used before adjectives to emphasize a high degree); (pronoun) this way, like this (used before verbs to indicate manner)

Definition

这么 is the casual ‘so / this’ used before adjectives (这么热 ‘so hot’) or verbs (这么做 ‘do it this way’). Pair it with 那么 for ‘that/so’ about something further away; 这样 focuses on a manner or kind.

pronoun
sosuch (used before adjectives to emphasize a high degree)this waylike this (used before verbs to indicate manner)

Examples

  • 这么。
    Zhè bēi shuǐ zhè me rè.
    This glass of water is so hot.
  • 这么。
    Nǐ zhè me zuò jiù duì le.
    Doing it this way is correct.
  • 这么。
    Tā de shū bāo zhè me zhòng.
    His schoolbag is this heavy.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

这zhèthis
么me

这 (this) plus 么 forms the word for this much or this way.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 這; 这 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
言
言yán這zhè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 這, 辶 (walk) combines with 言 for the sound. The character first meant “to meet” and was later used for “this”.

Open 这 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 麼; 么 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
幺幺yāosmall, tiny
Sound part声符shēngfú
麻
麻má麼
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 麼 pairs 麻, which gives the sound, with 幺, which means small/tiny; the simplified 么 is a later shorthand.

Open 么 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 2500 Most Frequent Chinese Words1000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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