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When to use variations of 那?

那 (nà,nǎ, nèi, núo) has multiple pronunciations. Can someone explain when to use the different sounds?

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Tommie C.
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    we now write 哪里 and 哪个 instead of 那里 and 那个 for 'where' and 'which', respectively. This eliminates some ambiguities. As to the rest, you can say na4 in all circumstances; while many native speakers (perhaps not all) actually say [nə] in 那邊(there), 那個(that), etc. – user58955 Jun 03 '14 at 15:05
  • @user58955 Define "we". I, for instance, never replace 那 by 哪 in written interrogatives. Admittedly, the differentiation between 那 and 哪 does eliminate a few ambiguities, but practically such ambiguities are rare. –  Jun 04 '14 at 10:08
  • @user1551 sorry, I meant in standard mandarin in mainland China. – user58955 Jun 04 '14 at 13:03

1 Answers1

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那 (nà): that, those

e.g 那是什么？What is that?/What are those?

哪 (nǎ): where, which

e.g 你在哪里？Where are you?

那 (nèi): that, those.

The same meaning as the first 那 (nà). But in "Internet Slang", people often write 内(nèi) instead of 那, because 那 is often pronounced as (nà) e.g 那个人 That guy

那 (nuó):【adj】 多,much,many

It is used in archaic Chinese.

More explanations about 那 can be found at: http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/2193.html http://www.zdic.net/z/26/js/90A3.htm

Stumpy Joe Pete
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KKCroissant
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    Refer to the answers in this question for more information regarding the nèi pronunciation.

    The zdict.net link also provides the explanation of its derivation as a contraction of nà yī (那一).

     – Claw Jun 03 '14 at 17:06