beginner

Demonstratives

Learn how to identify objects near you and far from you in Chinese using the demonstratives 這 (this) and 那 (that) with bare nouns.

In Chinese, we identify objects using 這 (zhè - this) for items close to us, and 那 (nà - that) for items further away. Just like personal pronouns, they can be paired directly with the copula 是 (is) and a bare noun:

這是書。

This is a book.

To form the negative, place 不 before 是 to get 不是:

這不是杯子。

This is not a cup.

Practice

Follow along with these examples to strengthen your understanding.

這是什麼？

What is this?

這是書。

This is a book.

那是什麼？

What is that?

那是筆。

That is a pen.

那是杯子嗎？

Is that a cup?

這不是杯子。

This is not a cup.

那是不是相機？

Is that a camera or not?

是的，那是相機。

Yes, that is a camera.

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