那么着 (nà me zhe) — (colloquial) to do that, to do so

Definition

那么着 (nàme zhe) is a colloquial filler meaning 'do it that way / like that' — a vague placeholder for the previously mentioned manner, not a precise reference. Often used with 就 to suggest going along with a plan.

pronoun
(colloquial) to do thatto do so

Examples

  • ，那么着。
    Jì rán nǐ bù xiǎng qù, zán men jiù nà me zhe ba.
    Since you don't want to go, let's do it that way.
  • 那么着。
    Tā jiù nà me zhe zuò wán le.
    He finished it just like that.
  • ，那么着。
    Xíng, jiù nà me zhe ba.
    Alright, let's do it that way.

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.

那么that
那nàthat么mesuffix
后缀Suffix
着zhesuffix

那么 (“that”) and 着 combine to mean doing that or carrying on that 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.

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 →

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 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě著zháo
Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

Open 着 →

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