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那本书
nà běn shū
What does "那本书" mean in English?
that book你要看那本书吗？
Do you want to read that book?
How to use "那本书" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
formal
A specific book indicated by the speaker, often with a gesture or prior context.
这本书很好看，那本书更好。
This book is good, but that book is better.
那本书是我最喜欢的。
That book is my favorite.
Used to refer to a book that is not the one being held or discussed immediately before. Often implies distance (physical or conceptual) from the speaker.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Demonstrative Pronouns in Chinese
Chinese uses '这' (zhè) for 'this' and '那' (nà) for 'that' to indicate proximity. Remember: '这' (close) vs. '那' (far). The measure word '本' (běn) is used for books, similar to how '本' is used for other bound items like magazines or notebooks.
Gold Rule
Using '那' vs. '这'
Always use '那' (nà) to refer to something distant from the speaker, whether physically or conceptually. Use '这' (zhè) for something close. This distinction is crucial for clarity in conversation.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the demonstrative pronoun '那' (nà, meaning 'that') with the noun '本书' (běn shū, meaning 'book'). '本' is a measure word for books, and '书' means 'book'. The structure follows standard Chinese grammar for indicating specific objects.
Usage Notes
1. '那本书' is used when referring to a book that is not physically close to the speaker or has been previously mentioned. For books near the speaker, use '这本书' (this book). 2. The measure word '本' is essential for counting books in Chinese. 3. In spoken Chinese, the tone of '那' (nà) may drop slightly when used in context, but it remains clearly distinguishable from '哪' (nǎ, meaning 'which').
Word Breakdown
那
that (distant)
demonstrative pronoun本
measure word for books
measure word书
book
noun汉英词典