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那么 (nà me) — (pronoun) like that, in that way; so (to such a degree); (conjunction) in that case, then

Definition

A two-in-one word: before adjectives/verbs it means 'so, to such a degree' (parallel to 这么 'so' but for situations already set up); between clauses it links a condition to its result, 'in that case, then' — weaker than 就, which emphasizes immediacy.

pronoun
like thatin that wayso (to such a degree)
conjunction
in that casethen

Examples

  • 那么。
    Zhè ge píng guǒ nà me dà.
    This apple is so big.
  • ，那么。
    Rú guǒ nǐ bù lái, nà me wǒ yě bú qù le.
    If you don't come, then I won't go either.
  • 那么。
    Nǐ bié nà me shuō huà.
    Don't talk like that.

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.

那nàthat
么memanner

那 points to something, and 么 gives the sense of “in that way” or “so”.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yìcity
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'.

Open 那 →

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
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