něi HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

哪个人?
Nǎ ge rén?
Which person?
哪本书?
Nǎ běn shū?
Which book?
哪是猫?
Nǎ shì māo?
Which is the cat?
你想读哪本书?
Nǐ xiǎng dú nǎ běn shū?
Which book do you want to read?
你把我的钥匙放哪了?
Nǐ bǎ wǒ de yàoshi fàng nǎ le?
Where did you put my keys?

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 哪 as containing the radical 口 (kǒu, mouth) for asking questions, and 那 (nà, that) as a hint—it asks 'which one?' among 'those' options. Associate it with the English word 'now' in a question: 'Which one NOW?'

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both spoken and written Chinese, in formal and informal contexts. Common in questions about people, objects, places, or time (e.g., 'which country,' 'which one'). Often appears with measure words (e.g., 哪个 nǎge for 'which one'). In spoken Chinese, it can be used rhetorically or for emphasis.

📖 Grammar Points

Used in interrogative sentences: Subject + 是 + 哪 + Noun? (e.g., 你是哪国人?). Often combines with measure words: 哪 + Measure Word + Noun? (e.g., 哪个人?). Can be used in rhetorical questions or exclamations for emphasis (e.g., 哪有! meaning 'No way!').

🏯 Cultural Notes

In informal speech, especially in northern China, 哪 may be pronounced as 'něi' in combinations like 哪个 (něige). It's polite to use 哪 when asking about personal details (e.g., nationality) as it implies respect by acknowledging options.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 什么 (shénme, 'what'), which asks for general information without implying choices, 哪 specifically asks about selection from known or implied options. For example, '哪本书?' (which book?) vs. '什么书?' (what book?).

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