那 (nà) — (pronoun) that; those; (conjunction) then; in that case
Definition
Pronoun: points to something far from the speaker, paired with 这 ('this'). As a conjunction, ‘in that case, then’ introduces a result, similar to 那么.
pronoun
thatthose
conjunction
thenin that case
Examples
- 。nà Shì wǒ de māo.That is my cat.
- 。nà Xiē píng guǒ hěn hǎo chī.Those apples are very tasty.
- ，那。Nǐ bù lái, nà wǒ men zǒu ba.If you're not coming, then we'll go.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
冄
冉rǎn那nà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The right part 邑 shows a city, and the left part 冄 (written 冉) gives the sound. The character first named a state and was later used to mean 'that'.
Grammar
Appears in
Browse more HSK 1 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.